Hearing on May 9 Regarding Legislation to Protect Sunlight in Public Parks
From: Copley Neighbors [copleyneighbors@gmail.com]
To: Redacted
Attachments: (2) Download all attachments
2013-14 H.826 Protecting S~1.pdf (95 KB)[Open as Web Page]; Bill H826.pdf (103 KB)[Open as Web Page]
Monday, May 06, 2013 8:37 PM
Hi All,
I am writing to you because in the past you or your organization testified in favor of legislation before the Massachusetts Legislature that would protect access to sunlight in certain parks in Boston and Cambridge.
As you may know, Representative Byron Rushing and former Representative Marty Walz re-filed H. 826, An Act Protecting Sunlight in Certain Public Parks, in January 2013.
The Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture has scheduled a hearing for this bill on Thursday, May 9, at 10:00 am in Hearing Room A-1. As advocates for the parks and neighborhoods impacted by this bill, I wanted to make you aware of this hearing in case you or members of your organization would like to submit written or verbal testimony in support of the bill.
For those unfamiliar with the bill, it would expand state laws that protect sunlight on the Boston Public Garden and the Boston Common to include six additional public parks—namely, the Charles River Esplanade, the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Copley Square Park, the Back Bay Fens, Christopher Columbus Park, and Magazine Beach Park. The purpose of this bill is to allow reasonably scaled development near the parks while ensuring that the trees, grass, and people who enjoy the parks have access to sufficient sunlight. For your reference, I have attached the bill text and a factsheet, which includes a more detailed bill summary of the bill.
If you are planning to submit testimony or testify at the hearing, please let me know. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me at
david.vanderwoude@mahouse.gov or 617-722-2783 with any questions or concerns.
Best,
Dave
Dave VanderWoude
Office of Majority Whip Byron Rushing
State House, Room 235
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2783
david.vanderwoude@mahouse.gov