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SD 1852

An Act relative to amending certain use restrictions for the Foxborough State Hospital

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Paul Feeney

The bill would allow releasing existing use restrictions on Foxborough State Hospital parcels to permit housing development, with Foxborough bearing the related costs.

House concurred
0
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Bill Summary · SD 1852

Summary: Bill SD 1852 — An Act relative to amending certain use restrictions for the Foxborough State Hospital

Overview

SD 1852, introduced February 27, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 1852; Senate Bill No. 2141), seeks to amend and release certain use restrictions on specific parcels of land on Payson Road in Foxborough previously governed by municipal recreation, public safety, and other building uses. The bill targets parcels H-1 and H-2 described in historic deeds and on a subdivision plan associated with the Foxborough State Hospital. The core idea is to allow housing-related uses (including market-rate and senior housing) on these parcels, with the town of Foxborough potentially conveying the land to a third party for housing.

Key Provisions

  • Section (a): The Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission on Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (CCAMM) may release or amend the Commonwealth’s use restrictions on all or part of the Payson Road parcels (H-1 and H-2). The restrictions to be released/amended are those tied to municipal recreational uses, public safety uses, and other municipal building purposes, currently codified in deeds recorded in the Norfolk Registry of Deeds (Book 20013, p. 470; Book 13416, p. 205) and shown on the “Approval Not Required Subdivision Plan” prepared for Foxborough State Hospital (dated Dec. 10, 1998; plan Book 465, p. 256; by Rizzo Associates Inc.).
  • Consideration for the release: the new land-use restriction must be a housing-use restriction (which may include market-rate housing and senior housing).
  • Potential conveyance: Foxborough may subsequently convey all or part of the parcels to a third party for housing purposes.
  • Section (b): Foxborough shall bear all costs of the transaction authorized under subsection (a), as determined by the CCAMM. This includes costs for engineering, surveys, appraisals, title examinations, and recording fees.

Affected Parties

  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts (through CCAMM) – authority to modify land-use restrictions.
  • Town of Foxborough – ownership/decision-maker on land use, responsible for costs, and potential conveyance to a third party for housing.
  • Potential developers or housing providers – who may acquire the parcels under housing-use restrictions.
  • Taxpayers and local residents – indirect beneficiaries or impacts, via housing development and related economic effects.

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • Introduced in the 2025-2026 session; House concurs on February 27, 2025.
  • Related prior measure: similar matter previously filed as House No. 4973 in the 2023-2024 session.
  • The bill would operate notwithstanding certain existing general and special laws (e.g., sections 32–37 of Chapter 7C and Chapter 312 of the acts of 1996).

Potential Impact

  • enables the redevelopment of Foxborough State Hospital land for housing, aligning with possible municipal and developer interests.
  • shifts use from recreational/public safety/public building purposes to housing, under state authorization.
  • imposes fiscal responsibility on Foxborough for associated transaction costs.
  • could stimulate housing supply (including senior housing) in Foxborough, with the town potentially transferring property to private parties for development.

Next Steps

  • If enacted, monitoring CCAMM’s implementation process and any accompanying regulations or further legislative actions.
  • Local planning and environmental considerations in Foxborough would likely accompany any housing development plan.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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