Environmental Renewable Energy Zoning

Sunpin v. Petersham: Mass. SJC Narrows the Path to Denying Large-Scale Solar

July 15, 2026 by Kathleen Heyer | Leave a Comment

This week the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued its decision in Sunpin Energy Services, LLC v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals of Petersham (pdf), its first decision addressing the solar energy provision of M.G.L. c. 40A, § 3 (the so-called Dover Amendment) since the court’s 2022 decision in Tracer Lane II Realty, LLC v. Waltham.  […]

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Land Use Zoning

Mass. SJC Reaffirms that Zoning Exemption for Educational Uses is Expansive; Residential Psychiatric Program for Adolescents Easily Qualifies

September 23, 2019 by Donald R. Pinto, Jr. | Leave a Comment

In a noteworthy decision today, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) reaffirmed that the exemption in the state’s Zoning Act, M.G.L. c. 40A, for uses deemed to be “for educational purposes,” is construed very broadly.  That exemption, which appears in Section 3 of Chapter 40A and is known as the Dover Amendment, provides in relevant part […]

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Land Use Zoning

Mass. Legislature Weighs Changes to Zoning Act; Quick Decision on Plaintiff’s Standing is Proposed

August 26, 2019 by Donald R. Pinto, Jr. | Leave a Comment

Two bills pending at the Massachusetts State House would amend the state Zoning Act, known as Chapter 40A, which governs zoning in every Massachusetts city and town except Boston. The Zoning Act is seldom amended, even though courts and land use lawyers are well aware of its shortcomings. This is no doubt because zoning is […]

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