Building Moratoria: Legal and Practical Restrictions

---

When it comes to planning, residents often request, and those running for office often propose, things that are not possible.  But rarely is the community provided an explanation as to why something that seems like a good idea, like a building moratorium.  Below please find a detailed analysis of the legal and practical reasons why under no circumstances can Plymouth enact a town-wide residential building moratorium, under what circumstances it could enact a time and area limited moratorium, and how such efforts in the past have actually led to more residential construction.