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Planning Board reviews ADU and affordable‑housing ordinance edits under LD 2003; seeks town attorney for March hearing
Summary
Planning staff presented draft changes to accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and affordable‑housing ordinances to comply with LD 2003. The board debated parking (one space per bedroom), whether ADUs may be detached, owner‑occupancy timelines and leasing minimums to limit short‑term rentals; members asked the town attorney to attend the March 17 joint public hearing for legal clarification.
The Planning Board reviewed draft ordinance edits Feb. 24 intended to align local ADU and affordable‑housing rules with Maine’s LD 2003.
Staff summarized attorney recommended edits and the proposed changes. A central debate concerned parking: staff noted the attorney’s interpretation that an ADU "may not be subject to an additional parking requirement beyond the parking requirements of a single family dwelling unit," but the town attorney had suggested clarifying that ADUs also should meet current parking rules (the practical recommendation discussed at the meeting was "1 parking space per bedroom"). Board members asked staff to make the parking requirement explicit in the draft.
Members also questioned whether LD 2003 requires ADUs to be attached or allows detached ADUs. Staff and the attorney’s interpretation cited in the packet indicated LD 2003 permits attached or detached ADUs, though the board discussed adopting local limits if desired. Board members requested the town attorney attend the March 17 joint public hearing to address that and related legal questions.
Other topics included owner‑occupancy definitions and timelines (staff recommended owner occupancy for approximately six months; discussion referenced 6 months and 3 days to meet residency tests) and leasing minimums intended to prevent short‑term rentals (the draft includes a provision that "no accessory dwelling unit can be leased or occupied by persons other than the owner occupant for a period of less than 6 consecutive months"). Members asked staff to reword ambiguous sections, clarify whether accessory living spaces differ from ADUs, and return revised language with the town attorney present at the March 17 hearing.
