Zoning Board of Appeals

TOWN OF GROTON Zoning Board of Appeals - PERMIT APPLICATION PROCEDURES

[Pursuant to Chapter 53 of Acts of 2020]

On Friday, April 3, 2020, Governor Baker signed into law Chapter 53 of the Acts of 2020, An Act to Address Challenges Faced by Municipalities and State Authorities Resulting from COVID -. Section 17 of the Act modifies state and local laws governing the submission and process of permit applications for the duration of the State of Emergency declared by Governor Baker on March 10, 2020.

The Town of Groton is implementing Chapter 53, Section 17 as follows. Portions of the Act are summarized below. Please see referenced sections for complete text.

§17(a) Definitions

"Permit": a permit, variance, special permit, license, amendment, extension, or other approval issued by a permit granting authority pursuant to a statute, ordinance, bylaw, rule or regulation, whether ministerial or discretionary.

''Permit granting authority'' (or “PGA”), a local, district, county or regional official or a local, district, county or regional multi-member body that is authorized to issue a permit.

PERMIT APPLICATIONS §17(b)(i) – For so long as the State of Emergency remains in effect, the Act governs the submission of permit applications. Permit applications may be filed as set forth below (if the applicable permit granting authority is not listed in the chart below, please submit to the Town Clerk and it will be forwarded):

“An application for a permit shall be deemed duly filed and accepted as of the date of the filing by the applicant if filed with and certified as received by the town clerk.” Applications to Permit Granting Authorities may be filed either:

1.    By first class mail: Application to the Town of Groton Town Clerk, 173 Main St., Groton, MA 01450, and copy of Application and all submission materials, including application fee, to the appropriate permit granting authority. Please send an email alerting the PGA that an application has been mailed to both the Town Clerk and the Zoning Assistant.

2.    Electronically: Attachment of the requisite application form and supplemental materials by email to the Town Clerk with “cc” to the appropriate permit granting authority and receipt by first class mail of a check for the applicable application fee. Online payment is not available at this time.

BOARD ELECTRONIC FILING:

townclerk@grotonma.gov

with cc to: mhammer@grotonma.gov

HARD COPIES:

Town of Groton Town Clerk

173 Main St.

Groton, MA 01450