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Representative urges change to land-court removal process to speed large housing projects through specialized docket
Summary
Representative Murray told the Judiciary Committee that H.1912 would require removal motions of certain appeals to go to Land Court — rather than remain in Superior Court — to speed adjudication of projects over 25 units or 25,000 square feet and reduce delay that can kill housing projects.
Representative Murray told the Joint Committee on the Judiciary that H.1912 would amend procedures so that appeals of large development projects are removed to the Land Court on motion and that remand from Land Court would require a showing of good cause. The change aims to ensure cases with technical land-use and real-estate issues proceed in a specialized docket where judges have expertise and dockets move faster.
"Delay is inevitable in the Superior Court; for a developer delay is money and it can kill projects," Representative Murray said. He said the Land Court's specialized process and expertise make it better suited for disputes over large projects and that the bill would provide a non-discretionary removal mechanism upon motion.
Committee members thanked the representative for the explanation; no vote was recorded at the hearing.
