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August 10, 2010 1 Volume 41 No. 15 Zoning Bulletin <br />MASSACHUSETTS <br />Recently, the state House of Representatives approved legislation, H <br />4687, which "would expedite the process of siting wind energy facili- <br />ties in cities and towns." Under the legislation, mayors, city managers, <br />or boards of selectman could "create and appoint a three - member wind <br />energy permitting board comprised of one member each of the zoning <br />board of appeals, the conservation commission and the planning board. <br />The wind energy permitting board would make the decision whether a <br />permit should be issued to a developer." <br />In passing the legislation, the House rejected an amendment that <br />would h prohibited "the siting of a wind energy project unless the <br />voters of the city or town approve it at a city or town election." It also <br />rejected an amendment that would have "increase[d] from 120 days to <br />180 days the amount of time that a city or town's local wind energy per- <br />mitting board has to decide whether to approve an application for the <br />siting of a wind energy project." <br />Source: Pembroke Express; www.pembrokexpress.com <br />NEW YORK <br />East Hampton is considering a plan to "change how bluff setbacks <br />are measured [in one area of town]." Currently, bluff setbacks are mea- <br />sured from the top /crest of the bluff. With the proposed changes, the set- <br />back would instead be measured from the base /toe of the bluff. <br />Source: The East Hampton Star; www.easthamptonstar.com <br />NORTH CAROLINA <br />The state legislature has passed House Bill 1829, which "mandate[s] <br />that property donated for conservation for which State tax credits are <br />issued must be held in perpetuity for the use for which the property was <br />intended." The bill awaits the governor's signature. <br />Source: The Outer Banks Sentinel; http:// obsentinel.womacknewspapers.com <br />UTAH <br />The state legislature recently passed two pieces of legislation, which <br />affect municipal zoning. House Bill 381, "Municipal Land Use Provi- <br />sions," "requires a rental unit to conform to the standards in place when <br />it was built, rather than current standards." Senate Bill 45, "Utah Fit <br />Premises Act," limits the number of unrelated individuals who can live in <br />a single- family dwelling to three. <br />Source: Deseret News; www.deseretnews.com <br />Editorial Questions or. Comments: west.quinlan @thomsonreuters.com <br />12 © 2010 Thomson Reuters <br />