MA H2298

Adds new Section 7A to Chapter 40A establishing statewide standards for municipal site plan review, covering traffic circulation, pedestrian safety, parking, stormwater drainage, screening, building bulk and height, exterior lighting, and outdoor storage areas

Prohibits municipalities from imposing performance standards governing the aesthetics of structures, and limits bulk/height standards to be no more restrictive than existing dimensional requirements in local zoning

Requires decisions on site plan applications within 90 days of complete application filing, with failure to act deemed automatic approval; decisions require only a simple majority vote for by-right uses

Limits grounds for denying site plan applications to non-compliance with specific zoning requirements or failure to submit required information and fees

Municipalities with existing site plan review bylaws have one year from the act's effective date to comply with the new requirements