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ZBA members discuss ADU law alignment and a city code-of-conduct for officials
Summary
Board members discussed discrepancies between the new state ADU requirement (referred to as MMA) and the city's bylaws and raised the idea of asking the city solicitor for guidance; members also noted a recent code-of-conduct communication and suggested broader application for elected officials.
Members of the Framingham Zoning Board of Appeals spent a portion of the Feb. 12 meeting discussing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and a code-of-conduct notice the board received.
Board members said the state’s recent housing directive (referred to in the hearing as the MMA comprehensive statewide housing plan) may not align perfectly with existing local bylaws. Members suggested that the board, planning staff or city solicitor identify discrepancies and advise how to reconcile local bylaw language with state requirements. Several members said any written guidance should wait until an ADU application appears before the board to avoid creating extra work prematurely.
Separately, members raised whether elected officials should be asked to adhere to the same code-of-conduct standards provided to board and committee volunteers; some members said they support voluntary adherence by elected officials even if not mandated. No formal vote or referral to the city solicitor was recorded during the meeting; the discussion closed with agreement that the topic merits attention when relevant applications or legislation require it.
