I was looking through laws currently winding their way through the Massachusetts legislature the other day, and I came across H.1169, and though the seeming majority of public sphere reaction seems to be stuff like this —
It should have noted that state Representatives Byron Rushing and Marty Walz are following Henry Lee’s example in protecting public parks from shadows.
— I don’t know if that’s accurate.
H.1169 seeks to replace a measure from 1990 about what constitutes a “new shadow” in relation to public parks and how much can be allowed on a park or a public space over the course of a day.
Here’s the original definition:
“New shadow,” the casting of a shadow at any time on an area which is not cast in shadow at such time by a structure which exists or for which a building permit has been granted …
Here’s the new definition:
New shadow shall not include a shadow cast (a) by a structure which exists; (b) by a structure for which a building permit has been granted on the date upon which application is made to a permit-granting authority for a proposed structure; or (c) by the proposed structure for which approval is being sought from a permit granting authority if such structure conforms to as-of-right height limits allowed by the Boston, Cambridge or Lynn Zoning Code, whichever is applicable, as in force on May first, nineteen hundred and ninety.
That seems to be pretty specific about encouraging development, no?
