The Town of Lakeville Planning Board voted on April 10, 2025, to recommend three zoning bylaw changes to be placed before town meeting: amendments to site‑plan review procedures, an addition to the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) definition to reference state standards, and deletion of the town’s separate accessory‑apartment bylaw.

All three public hearings were opened and closed during the April 10 meeting, and the board voted to recommend each article for town meeting consideration. Planning staff presented the legal notices and summarized the proposed edits before the board took votes.

The first article would amend Lakeville Town Code, Zoning Bylaw Section 270-6.7 (Site Plan Review). Changes include clarifying applicability when a proposal would expand a building or intensify a use that changes traffic, noise, parking or lighting; adding a required statement of proposed use to the submittal requirements; and updating administrative review procedures. Planning staff said the edits are intended to strengthen and simplify site‑plan review for future applicants.

The second article would amend Section 270-2.1 to update the definition of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) by expressly referencing 760 CMR 71 (the state ADU rules). The board said this change will allow the town’s ADU definition to track state law changes without repeated bylaw edits.

The third article would delete Section 270-7.8, the town’s separate accessory‑apartment bylaw, because the ADU provisions are less restrictive and the accessory‑apartment bylaw requires attachment to the existing dwelling. Planning staff said removing the older bylaw eliminates potential conflict between the two rules; Title 5 septic requirements will still apply to any new ADU.

For each hearing the board opened the public comment period, took no extended public testimony, and moved to recommend favorable action at town meeting. The board’s motions to recommend approval were seconded and carried.

Planning staff said approved articles and the legal notice are available for public inspection at the Town Clerk’s Office. The board forwarded the recommended articles to the select board and scheduled them for the upcoming town meeting warrant.

Speakers and staff involved in the hearings included planning department staff and planning board members; the legal notice cited Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, Section 5 as the enabling statute for zoning‑bylaw public hearings.