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Planning board backs ADU changes and mixed‑use ("Mr. Codd") overhaul, after detailed debate over height, uses and nonconforming rules
Summary
The Town of Falmouth Planning Board voted Oct. 8 to recommend multiple zoning warrant articles—changing accessory apartment language to 'Accessory Dwelling Unit' to align with the Affordable Homes Act, correcting a scrivener's error for home occupations, updating definitions, and advancing a major Mixed Residential & Commercial overlay (Mr. Codd) that lowers minimum lot size and clarifies mixed‑use rules — while members debated building heights, setbacks, and special‑permit uses.
The Town of Falmouth Planning Board on Oct. 8 recommended six warrant articles that would revise the town’s zoning bylaws, including changes to accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules and a major overhaul of the Mixed Residential & Commercial overlay (referred to repeatedly in discussion as the 'Mr. Codd' overlay).
Staff summary and ADU changes Jed Horner and Tom Flanner of the Planning Department reviewed the redlined warrant text the board will send to Town Meeting. The board agreed with staff recommendation to replace the term 'accessory apartment' with 'Accessory Dwelling Unit' to align local language with the state Affordable Homes Act. Staff also recommended removing local owner‑occupancy requirements and two clauses that limited the number of bedrooms on an ADU‑lot (items 8 and 9), while retaining overlay‑based protections (items 10 and 11) that apply in the Coastal Pond Overlay District and the Water Resource Protection Overlay District.
"Not only has that been removed, but in your so I'm just gonna scroll back to the original language," Jed Horner explained while showing the redline on…
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