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Planning Board reports zoning updates; ADU bylaw with state AG and 40R interest constrained by sewer
Summary
Planning Board chair Michael Fecht reported that zoning changes from last fall were approved by the state Attorney General except an accessory-dwelling-unit (ADU) bylaw still under review; the board is exploring smart-growth 40R/40S overlay districts but said sewer availability limits where higher densities are feasible.
Michael Fecht, chair of the Planning Board, told the Select Board that zoning articles passed at last fall’s Town Meeting have largely been approved by the state Attorney General, with the exception of the ADU bylaw which was under further review and expected to return with suggested strikeouts.
Fecht said residents had already benefited from some changes that removed the need for Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) relief in cases where revised rules provide more flexibility. He described a technical exception tied to historical AA zoning that can affect setback rights on opposite sides of the same street and said the board is reviewing that anomaly.
The Planning Board reported interest from at least one property owner in creating a starter-home or smart-growth overlay (40R/40S). Fecht cautioned that the absence of sewer in parts of town limits achievable densities because septic capacity and minimum standards affect the number of units that can be sited. He said the overlay programs provide state reimbursements (roughly $3,000 per additional building permit) that make them attractive for towns that can accommodate increased density.
Why it matters: Approval of ADU and zoning changes affects homeowners’ ability to add units and may reduce ZBA caseloads. The exploratory work on 40R/40S overlay districts could support denser housing where infrastructure allows; no Select Board vote was requested at the meeting.
