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Simsbury zoning commission delegates ADU approvals to staff, adopts new measurement rule excluding finished basements and screened porches
Summary
The Zoning Commission voted to allow administrative (staff) approval for attached and detached accessory dwelling units and to measure allowable size using a defined 'gross building area' that specifically excludes finished basements and enclosed screened porches.
The Zoning Commission on Feb. 3 approved amendments to accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules that give town staff the authority to administratively review and approve both attached and detached ADUs and adopted a new measurement rule for calculating allowable ADU size.
Commissioners said the changes aim to reduce process barriers for homeowners seeking ADUs while maintaining regulatory safeguards. Town staff presented the amendments as a package that replaces the current requirement for site-plan review or a special exception with an administrative, staff-level zoning approval if the application meets the ADU standards in the regulations.
George (Town Planner/Staff member) reminded the commission of procedural limits in deliberations and clarified that "Public…
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