RODE Architects
Washington St elevation of the approved 3200 Washington St development
The Attorney General's office ruled that a major city board intentionally violated the Open Meeting Law the day it gave final approval for a bellwether development at 3200 Washington St.
Public notice laws let residents know what subjects government boards will discuss. The office of Attorney General Maura Healey announced on Friday that the Zoning Board of Appeals acted improperly by failing to post that 3200 Washington St. would be up for a vote. That vote, taken way back on Sept. 15, 2015 was the final hurdle for a controversial development at 3200 Washington St. The $23 million project is set to bring 73 apartments and three townhouses to Egleston Square.
Affordable housing advocates warned the ZBA members that by meeting that day, they would be breaking the Open Meeting Law, according to the AG's ruling. Advocates from what the AG's office called the "Group Working for 100% Real Affordability in Egleston" gave the ZBA a letter outlining the impending violation not once, but twice during the meeting.
We've posted the Attorney General's four-page ruling below. The AG has imposed a civil fine of $1,000 against the board and will require that its members taken training on sunshine laws.
Jamaica Plain News has closely followed the saga of 3200 Washington St. Here is an archive of our stories.
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