Barrington council advances zoning overhaul but sends ADU lot-size rule back for more review
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Summary
Town Council introduced an ordinance updating Chapter 185 (zoning) to reflect recent state law, scheduling a June 2 public hearing, and directed staff to draft an amendment removing a 20,000-square-foot lot-size requirement for one ADU pathway and seek the planning board's input.
Barrington Town Council introduced a zoning ordinance update to align local rules with recent changes in state law, including new accessory dwelling unit (ADU) provisions, and scheduled a June 2 public hearing. Council also directed the solicitor's office to draft language that would remove the 20,000-square-foot lot-size threshold for one ADU pathway and asked staff to obtain a planning-board recommendation before the council takes a final vote.
Why it matters: The debate centered on whether the town will adopt the state-prescribed 20,000-square-foot lot restriction that limits by-right ADU construction when the ADU requires a new or enlarged footprint. Supporters of striking the lot-size limit said it would broaden the law's benefits and ease creation of rental or caregiver housing; opponents cautioned that changes deserve more study and planning-board review.
Council President Cloutier moved to introduce Ordinance 20-25-7, amending Chapter 185 (zoning) with a public hearing set for June 2; Council then amended that motion to direct the solicitor to draft alternate ADU language removing the 20,000-square-foot threshold and to seek the planning board's recommendation on that change. Solicitor Goins advised that the state law permits municipalities to be more permissive than the state but recommended the planning board review because it had already issued an opinion on the current draft. Council voted 5-0 to introduce the ordinance, with the amendment and direction to staff included.
Supporters of removing the lot-size restriction said the 20,000-square-foot standard would make by-right ADUs possible only on large lots and therefore defeat the policy aim of expanding small-scale housing choice. Vice President Berard told the council she had asked the town manager to run a GIS analysis and said roughly 28% of Barrington lots were 20,000 square feet or larger; she said she was concerned the restriction would limit access to homeowners on smaller lots who need supplementary rental income or space for caregivers.
Solicitor Goins and Council members discussed the procedural implications: the state law establishes three pathways for ADUs (disabled-family-member use; within existing footprint; or new/addition that changes footprint) and it is the third pathway that includes the 20,000-square-foot threshold. Goins noted that property owners who do not meet the lot-size requirement can seek a variance from the Zoning Board.
Councilmembers said they wanted additional public conversation and the planning board's review before the council finalizes any change. Council President Cloutier said the council could proceed with introduction and hold one or two subsequent meetings to complete the ADU provisions if additional study is required.
What's next: The council set a June 2 public hearing on the ordinance and directed the solicitor and planning staff to prepare the revised ADU language for planning-board review. If the planning board needs more time, the council may continue the ADU item to July; the record before the council indicates the possibility of adopting the broader ordinance in stages.
Ending: The council's action keeps the zoning revisions on a fast public schedule while explicitly instructing staff to revisit the controversial lot-size limitation with the planning board and return recommended language to the council for a later vote.
