According to M.G.L Chapter 40A the decision of the Board on a Special Permit shall be made within 90-days from the hearing date and on a Variance within 100-days after the date of the filing the application with the Clerks office.
After the hearing by the BZA, a number of internal actions are required before the decision is filed with the City Clerk. These include preparation of the transcript, drafting and review of the decision, and signature by the BZA Chairperson. Depending on the backlog of cases, this could take up to six weeks. After the decision is signed by the BZA Chairperson, it is date stamped and filed at the City Clerk's office. An original decision is then sent by certified mail to the petitioner. By State statute there is a 20 day appeal period following the filing with the City Clerk to allow for the possibility of parties in interest to appeal the decision to the Courts. If the decision is appealed, a building permit cannot be issued until the matter is resolved by the Courts.