Law & Oversight
Article 97
What Article 97 protection does and does not mean for land near this parcel.
60-Second Summary
- Adjacency to state wildlife land does not by itself prohibit clearing on private property.
- If a project component requires disposition or conversion of Article 97-protected land or easements, Massachusetts generally requires a two-thirds roll-call vote of the Legislature and a statutory replacement process.
Confirmed FactRequires Determination
Why This Matters in Lakeville
What Article 97 protection does and does not mean for land near this parcel.
What Is Known
Confirmed Fact
The statute
Massachusetts Constitution Amendment Article 97 and M.G.L. c.3 §5A generally require a two-thirds roll-call vote of the Legislature and a statutory open-space review/replacement process before Article 97-protected land or easements can be disposed of or converted to another use.
Adjacency to state wildlife land does not by itself prohibit clearing on private property — the trigger is disposition or conversion of protected land or easements by a specific project component, such as a roadway, utility, or rail work.
Key sources
- Article 97 and M.G.L. c.3 §5A — protected open space — Mass.gov
Requires Determination
What Has Not Yet Been Established
- Whether any roadway, utility, rail, or access component of the project would require disposition or conversion of Article 97-protected land or easements
Sources
Key sources
- Article 97 and M.G.L. c.3 §5A — protected open space — Mass.gov