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Planning Board forwards ADU ordinance changes to town council to comply with 2024 state law
Summary
The board voted to forward zoning ordinance amendments on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to the town council, finding the changes consistent with the comprehensive plan and noting enforcement mechanisms including biennial affidavits and lease documentation.
The New Shoreham Planning Board on Aug. 13 voted to forward proposed amendments to the town’s zoning ordinance governing accessory dwelling units to the Town Council to comply with changes in state law enacted in 2024.
Planning staff and board members discussed the draft language and how it aligns with state requirements. Peter, a planning staff member, said the section under review was unchanged by the 2024 state law and that the draft before the board implements only the state-required changes; additional town-specific language is expected in a future draft.
Board members discussed multiple practical points: minimum lot area thresholds tied to state law (20,000 square feet), occupancy and enforcement questions, the existing stock of roughly 70 ADUs the town already has on file, and unit-size limits (the draft retains a 1,500-square-foot cap for new ADUs with some allowance up to 1,800 square feet for existing structures). Board members requested that the affidavit and lease documentation requirements be clear; staff confirmed existing practice requires a two-year renewal affidavit and, where applicable, a written rental agreement filed with the zoning official.
The board attached findings in support of forwarding the amendments: consistency with the comprehensive plan; support for growth of affordable, year-round rental housing; protection of the town’s natural and built character; orderly growth of affordable housing; and improved enforceability through updated regulations. The motion to forward the amendments to the Town Council passed by voice vote.
Peter and staff will supply additional language in the fall to address local goals and to clarify enforcement details, including what documentation must accompany biennial renewals and the treatment of existing ADUs under the revised ordinance.
