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Town meeting rejects Article 31 to relax senior-overlay size limits; bid to reconsider fails
Summary
Voters declined Article 31, which would have removed unit-size limits and a first‑floor living‑space requirement in Section 500‑24 (senior village overlay district); an effort to reopen the vote failed for lack of the two‑thirds majority required for reconsideration.
A lawmaker moved that the town amend Section 500‑24 (the senior village overlay district) to remove unit‑size limits and a 66% first‑floor living‑space requirement and to permit the town clerk to make non‑substantive editorial changes to ensure consistency with the intent of the vote. "The current bylaw has a 1,000 square foot minimum and 2,400 ft maximum size per dwelling unit as well as requirement of 66% of the living space being on the first floor," the lawmaker said, adding that the planning board recommends removing those limitations to allow greater flexibility for senior housing.
The moderator called the vote on Article 31; after voters raised their cards the tally was announced as 56 yes and 47 no. The moderator said the article "does not prevail" because it did not achieve the two‑thirds majority required for passage. A participant then moved to reconsider Article 31 and a second was recorded, but the moderator explained a two‑thirds vote is needed to reopen the debate on a previously decided article.
One lawmaker urged that the body reopen discussion, citing the Heather Hill property and budgetary concerns, and saying the amendment would address the town's need for smaller, more accessible housing for seniors and starter homes. "I don't think that anybody came to the master plan committees talking about the need for more McMansions," the speaker said, arguing the overlay's original intent was to allow smaller units. The moderator then called for a vote on reconsideration and concluded the meeting did not have the two‑thirds majority to grant it; the meeting moved on to Article 34.
The planning board's proposal would apply only to developments built under the senior village overlay district special permitting process. Supporters said removing the numeric unit‑size limits and the first‑floor percentage requirement would allow developers and the town greater flexibility to respond to market demands for senior housing; opponents who voted against the article prevented the change by denying it the two‑thirds threshold.
