Committee moves small parcel at rear of 47 Hamlet Street to full council as committee report amid ADU concerns

Planning Director Dan McCarthy told the Housing Committee that a 4,907-square-foot parcel subdivided from the Frost School campus should be declared surplus and sold through the city’s long-standing yard-sale program, which typically sells adjacent, nonbuildable parcels at $1 per square foot with conditions to merge lots and record an ANR plan.

McCarthy described the yard-sale program as routine and said the proposed sale would include standard conditions (landscaping, ANR plan, stormwater review if required). He said the program’s intention is to fold small parcels back into the adjacent lot for yard or parking use rather than create new standalone lots.

Councilors raised questions about allowable uses, noting that state accessory dwelling unit (ADU) legislation affects what can be built on small adjoining parcels. Councilor LaPlante and others said longstanding practice allowed accessory structures (sheds, pools) but that recent ADU law changes could allow by-right accessory dwelling units in situations that earlier ordinances intended to prohibit. McCarthy said earlier yard-sale agreements varied and that some past documents did allow accessory structures; he recommended reconciling historic practice with current state ADU law.

Given the policy implications, the committee voted to forward item 48325 as a committee report to the full council so the full body can consider the conditions, confirm the yard-sale terms and reconcile the yard‑sale policy with the state ADU rules.

Next steps: staff will provide the full council with the standard yard‑sale conditions, the parcel map and the recommended vote language; Public Works/Planning will confirm any stormwater or zoning steps required prior to closing.