Massachusetts Wants to Ease Environmental Rules to Boost Housing

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who’s up for reelection next year in a state reeling from soaring home prices, is looking to jump-start housing construction by slashing environmental reviews.

Her proposal would reduce the review period under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act to 30 days for many planned apartment and condominium buildings. The process can currently take a year or more, driving up expenses for real estate developers and making it harder for projects to generate the financial returns needed to justify construction.