Credit: (Ryan Parker on Unsplash)
File photo
A Senate committee on Thursday unexpectedly rejected a bill that would have weakened local power over warehouse development, and given a greater say to other municipalities and state and county planning authorities.
The bill (S-3688) sought to control a current surge in warehouse construction by requiring towns facing warehouse applications to tell adjoining municipalities about the plans and seek their approval. It also proposed that disputes should be decided by county planning boards, and that appeals would go to the State Planning Commission.
But the bill garnered only two “yes” votes and three abstentions on the five-person panel, meaning that it failed to advance, in a rebuff to its architects including Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester).