Last Reviewed by MLTC: 1/26/2026.
Practical resources for planning, approving, and documenting CR/easement amendments. Together, these materials help land trusts understand Massachusetts legal and approval constraints, apply a consistent internal amendment policy that protects conservation values and avoids private benefit/inurement risk, and address broader “problem easement” situations where amendment is one of several possible tools.
Resources:
- Amending Massachusetts Conservation and Preservation Restrictions (Jonathan Bockian, Esq., 2015)
Massachusetts-specific overview of CR/HPR amendment constraints and approval pathways.
Resource: amending_ma_crs_2015.pdf - Model Conservation Restriction Amendment Policy Guidelines (Massachusetts Easement Defense Subcommittee, March 6, 2007)
Model policy framework for evaluating amendments and documenting decision-making standards and procedures.
Resource: medsmodelcramendment_2.pdf
Easement Revitalization: A Problem Solving Guidebook for Land Trusts (Solid Ground Consulting, 2016)
Guidebook for diagnosing and addressing “problem easements,” including amendment among other resolution options.
Resource: 2016_easement_revitalization_guidebook.pdf