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S 2217

Relates to notice to be given when there is a change in service furnished upon the rapid transit facilities or the omnibus line facilities of the New York city transit authority

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Leroy Comrie and 2 co-sponsors

Transfers two West Roxbury DCR parcels (Parcel D ~31.5 acres, Parcel E ~4.7) to The Gardens Cemetery at fair market value to expand burial grounds, overriding other laws.

PRINT NUMBER 2217A
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 2217

Summary — S.2217 (2025): Transfer of State Land in West Roxbury to The Gardens Cemetery

Overview

S.2217 is a Massachusetts bill titled “An Act improving the usage of state property” that authorizes the transfer of two parcels of Commonwealth land in the West Roxbury section of Boston, currently under the care and control of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), to The Gardens Cemetery. The transfers are to be made for the cost of fair market value and for the explicit purpose of expanding the cemetery for burial uses.

Note on metadata: The provided packet contains inconsistent metadata (including a New York–oriented title and mixed sponsor lists). The substantive bill text and docket indicate this is a Massachusetts General Court bill presented by Senators Michael F. Rush and William F. MacGregor (filed 1/15/2025). Confirm current status with the Massachusetts legislature’s website if needed.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: Transfers a parcel identified on a surveyed plan as “Parcel D” (located off Baker Street, West Roxbury) from the Commonwealth (DCR) to The Gardens Cemetery at fair market value for cemetery expansion and burial purposes.
  • Section 2: Transfers a second parcel identified as “Parcel E” (also off Baker Street, West Roxbury) from the Commonwealth (DCR) to The Gardens Cemetery at fair market value for cemetery expansion and burial purposes.
  • Both transfers are authorized “notwithstanding any general or special law,” i.e., they override other statutes that might otherwise restrict such a transfer.
  • Each parcel is described by metes and bounds referencing a specific historic plan (“Plan of Land of the Association of the Evangelical Lutheran Church for Works of Mercy,” W.O. Badger, Surveyor, 1900) to be recorded in the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds.

Parcel sizes (from bill text)

  • Parcel D: 1,372,670+ square feet (approximately 31.512 acres).
  • Parcel E: 204,583+ square feet (approximately 4.697 acres).

Who is affected

  • Department of Conservation and Recreation: will convey control/ownership of the specified parcels.
  • The Gardens Cemetery: will acquire land for cemetery expansion and burial use.
  • City of Boston / West Roxbury residents: local land use and open-space inventory may change; potential impacts on municipal planning, access, and local services.
  • Commonwealth finances: sale proceeds are to be the fair market value; the bill does not explicitly state the disposition of those proceeds (typically to the Commonwealth).

Legal & fiscal considerations

  • Transfer “notwithstanding” clause expedites authorization by superseding other statutory restrictions.
  • Sale at fair market value implies an appraisal and funds transfer, but the bill does not detail appraisal procedures, timelines, or how sale revenues will be allocated.
  • Use is restricted by the bill language to cemetery expansion/burial purposes.

Procedural status & next steps

  • Filed in the Massachusetts Senate (docket/filing date 1/15/2025).
  • The packet lists several committee references and action dates with some inconsistencies; confirm current committee assignment and status on the official Massachusetts legislature site (e.g., State Administration & Regulatory Oversight; other entries reference Transportation).
  • If enacted, the deeds and survey plans are to be recorded at the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds as referenced.

For a final determination of legal effects or for local planning impact, consult the full bill text and any fiscal notes or committee reports issued by the Massachusetts General Court.

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

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