Charlton planning board closes public hearing and votes to advance broad zoning bylaw and map amendments

The Town of Charlton Planning Board closed a public hearing on proposed zoning bylaw and map amendments on May 7, 2025, and voted to accept the package as edited during the hearing.

Board members and staff spent the hearing reviewing a multi-part set of changes to section 200 of the Charlton zoning bylaw, including a new definition and rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), relocation of footnote language into the main text, changes to the permitted uses table across multiple districts, village-district design standards (including sidewalk and storefront transparency rules) and a map amendment to extend the community-business (CB) zone along Worcester Road.

The amendments add a new ADU definition and a new section (200-5-xx) that sets parameters for ADUs: they must be on the same lot as the principal dwelling; attached ADUs are limited to 1,250 square feet gross floor area while detached ADUs are limited to 900 square feet or half the principal dwelling’s living area, whichever is less; an ADU may not be sold separately; and ADUs may not be used for short-term rentals as defined in MGL c.64G. During public…