An Act authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to convey a certain parcel of land in the town of Stoneham

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Day and 1 co-sponsor

MassDOT may convey about 12,500 sq ft in Stoneham to Wakefield Investments to rebuild the NB I-93 off-ramp, at fair market value and “as is.”

New draft substituted, see H4643

Summary: H.3312 – An Act authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to convey a certain parcel of land in the town of Stoneham

Purpose and intent

This bill authorizes the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to convey a specific parcel of land in Stoneham to Wakefield Investments, Inc. for the purpose of reconstructing an off-ramp from Interstate 93 northbound to Montvale Avenue and Maple Street. The measure is filed as an emergency law intended to effectuate an immediate conveyance to enable the project without delay.

Key provisions

Authority to convey (Section 1): MassDOT secretary may convey a designated Stoneham parcel to Wakefield Investments, Inc. notwithstanding section 7E of Chapter 81 or other laws. The conveyance is tied to reconstructing the NB I-93 off-ramp to Montvale Ave and Maple Street.

Parcel description (Section 1): The parcel, part of Parcel 2-31, consists of about 12,500 square feet. It is landlocked to the abutting owner at 100 Maple Street and was taken in 1958 under an order of taking (recorded in Middlesex South Registry of Deeds, Book 9244, Page 114).

Consideration (Section 2): The conveyance price is the full and fair market value of the parcel as determined by the MassDOT secretary and agreed to by Wakefield Investments, Inc. The conveyance is on an “as is, where is, with all faults” basis via the DOT release deed.

Costs and expenses (Section 3): Wakefield Investments, Inc. is responsible for all costs related to the conveyance, including engineering, surveys, layout alterations, recording, appraisals, and deed preparation, as determined by the MassDOT secretary.

Who is affected

MassDOT would enact the conveyance and oversee valuation and the “as is” transfer.

Wakefield Investments, Inc. would acquire the parcel and pay all related costs; the company would coordinate with MassDOT on valuation and the deed process.

Abutting property owner at 100 Maple Street is noted as the landlocked neighbor associated with the parcel; the transaction acknowledges this relationship in the parcel description.

Local community and motorists could be affected by the reconstructed off-ramp project, potentially improving traffic flow.

Procedural and timeline notes

Introduced: February 27, 2025.

Status: New draft substituted; see House Bill 4643 (H4643).

Committee actions: Referred to State Administration and Regulatory Oversight on introduction; subsequently moved through related committee processes, including a hearing scheduled for April 9, 2025.

Urgency designation: The act is labeled an emergency law to effect immediate conveyance and project advancement.

Related measures: Similar matter previously filed as H.4965 (2023-2024); current bill is replaced in the new draft (H4643).

Fiscal and legal implications

The transaction hinges on a MassDOT-determined FMV, with Wakefield Investments paying all conveyance-related costs.

The conveyance would proceed “as is” and may bypass certain general/special laws via the emergency provision in Section 1.