SJC Will Review Regis College Ruling

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court will review a Land Court decision submitted by Regis College last year, which prohibits the college from expanding on its current campus.

The plan, dubbed "Regis East", had called for an expansion that would include classrooms for a variety of purposes and a 362-unit residential building for senior citizens, according to the college in a statement released yesterday.

Residents would be required to take at least two courses a semester from Regis and in turn, students at Regis would have the opportunity to do nursing rounds and study gerontology, social work and management with the seniors at the residential facility. 

Regis College has argued that it should be allowed to expand under the so-called Dover Amendment (Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 30A, Section 3), which allows churches and schools to bypass local zoning bylaws.

After the Weston Zoning Board of Appeals ruled that Regis' plans did not qualify, the case went before the Land Court, which ruled against Regis in January 2010.

“We are very pleased that the state’s Supreme Judicial Court has agreed so quickly to review this case,” said Regis President Mary Jane England, MD.  “We all understand that this case has implications for colleges and universities across the Commonwealth.”