Case Name: Board of Appeals of Melrose vs. Housing Appeals Committee & another
Court: Massachusetts Appeals Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1977-06-10
Citations: 5 Mass. App. Ct. 838
Docket Number: 
Parties: Board of Appeals of Melrose vs. Housing Appeals Committee & another.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Appeals Court Reports
Volume: 5
Pages: 838–838

Head Matter:
Board of Appeals of Melrose vs. Housing Appeals Committee & another.
June 10, 1977.
James R. Senior, City Solicitor, for the Board of Appeals of Melrose.
Eric Lund for Pond View Glen Associates & Paula R. Rosen, Assistant Attorney General, for the Housing Appeals Committee.

Opinion:
1. The principal contention of the plaintiff board — that the defendant Housing Appeals Committee (H.A.C.) failed to take into account the city's long range planning considerations as well as its general record in making provision for low income housing — is without merit. It is apparent from page eleven of the decision that H.A.C. was fully aware of, and acted in accordance with, its statutory responsibility as explained in Board of Appeals of Hanover v. Housing Appeals Comm. 363 Mass. 339, 367 (1973). 2. The judge correctly ruled that the board may not complain of the failure of H.A.C. to render its decision within the thirty-day period set forth in G. L. c. 40B, § 22. That section makes it clear that, if the time limit is other than directory (see Boston v. Barry, 315 Mass. 572, 578 [1944]), it is intended to confer a right only on the applicant for the permit, and that the board has no standing to complain of the delay.
Judgment affirmed.