Unless specifically designated otherwise, the Board of Appeals shall act as the Special Permit Granting Authority.

Special permits shall only be issued following public hearings held within 65 days after filing with the special permit granting authority an application, a copy of which shall forthwith be given to the Town Clerk by the applicant.

Special permits shall be granted by the special permit granting authority only upon its written determination that the proposed use will not have adverse effects which over-balance its beneficial effects on either the neighborhood or the Town, in view of the particular characteristics of the site and of the proposal in relation to that site. The determination shall indicate consideration of each of the following:

Special permits shall not take effect until the board which acted on the permit has received documentation from the applicant that a copy of the decision, certified by the Town Clerk, has been recorded in the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, as required at M.G.L. ch. 40A, § 11.

Special permits shall lapse within 12 months of special permit approval (plus time required to pursue or await the determination of an appeal referred to in M.G.L. ch. 40A, § 17, from the grant thereof) if a substantial use thereof or construction has not begun, except for good cause.