Article 97 Land Use Prior Public Use Doctrine
August 26, 2026 by Ryan Douglas | Leave a Comment
In its decision last week in Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Inc. v. City of Boston (pdf), the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) held that the 14-acre site of White Stadium in Boston’s Franklin Park is not protected by Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution (pdf) and the City of Boston (City) therefore didn’t need a two-thirds […]
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Article 97 Prior Public Use Doctrine Public Use Restrictions
October 7, 2024 by Michelle O'Brien | Leave a Comment
The Nahant Preservation Trust, the town of Nahant, and certain Nahant residents have suffered another loss in their years-long legal battle to stop Northeastern University from expanding its Marine Science Center, located on East Point in Nahant. The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently affirmed the dismissal of the legal actions, finding that the plaintiffs had no […]
Article 97 Prior Public Use Doctrine Real Estate
March 12, 2024 by Tess Edwards | Leave a Comment
In its recent decision in Carroll v. Select Board of Norwell (pdf), the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) reaffirmed that where town-owned land is held for a specific purpose, M.G.L. c. 40, § 15A dictates that it cannot be diverted to another inconsistent use until the “board or officer having charge” of the land determines […]
Article 97 Restrictions
November 8, 2017 by Michelle O'Brien | Leave a Comment
In a decision of interest to municipalities, conservation groups, and land use experts, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently decided that a public playground in the City of Westfield is parkland protected by Article 97 of the Amendments of the Massachusetts Constitution. Art. 97 provides, in part, that property “taken or acquired” for conservation […]
