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Brentwood planning board advances public outreach as it readies ADU, multifamily and workforce‑housing updates
Summary
Consultants and board members discussed draft ordinance changes for accessory dwelling units, multifamily zoning and a workforce‑housing tool; the board set a public outreach schedule, plans to invite developers and engineers to explain density and water implications, and emphasized compliance with recent state legislation.
Planning Board members heard a presentation Aug. 21 about draft zoning tools — accessory dwelling units (ADUs), a multifamily zoning option for commercial corridors, and a workforce‑housing mechanism — and agreed to a phased public outreach plan that begins with an ADU explainer and will follow with multifamily and workforce housing discussions.
A consultant from the firm leading the ordinance work told the board the packet contains four draft regulatory tools and that staff and two planners had already reviewed early drafts; the consultant emphasized the board should craft presentations for the public and explained the drafts include explanatory front matter to highlight major changes. “We can focus on one item tonight,” the consultant said, and offered to craft short town newsletter articles and example development scenarios.
Board members said aligning the local ADU ordinance with recent state changes is an initial priority. “I really want us to make sure that our ADU ordinance reflects state law,” one planning board member said. The group agreed the ADU change is the easiest to explain to the public and could serve as a first step in a multi‑month outreach series.
Much of the discussion focused on multifamily zoning and density. Consultants noted the legislature adopted a law in July 2025 requiring municipalities to allow multifamily development in commercial zones and gave towns roughly one town‑meeting cycle to respond; the consultants said the draft multifamily tools aim to create feasible development opportunities while guarding against community pushback. Board members raised questions about water supply, septic systems and soils, and asked for examples of developments and density counts from comparable towns with municipal water and sewer. One member urged the board to test the draft densities against a few local parcels to ensure the numbers are workable and to avoid proposing figures that would be perceived as unrealistic.
Developers and engineers were identified as invitees to help explain feasibility: the board asked staff to invite developer Joe Falzone and town resident engineer Wayne Morrill for a late‑September work session so members could hear developers’ economic perspective and an engineer’s view on soils, septic and water implications. The consultant said they would gather examples of multifamily developments, associated densities, and — where available — financial metrics to help the board explain tradeoffs to voters.
The board also discussed communications: members asked staff and the consultant to draft three short newsletter articles (ADU, multifamily, workforce housing) to run before town meeting so residents have time to digest the changes and attend hearings. The consultant and staff will circulate drafts to the chair and to department staff for review before publication.
No ordinance changes were adopted at the meeting; the board directed staff and the consultant to prepare public materials, gather comparative examples and schedule a work session with developers and engineers.
Next steps: consultant to provide example developments and density data, staff to draft and circulate newsletter items and to schedule a developer/engineer panel for late September or early October.
