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Select board, finance committee recommend postponement of ADU bylaw changes; other zoning amendments recommended for approval
Summary
Officials said Articles 53 and 54 (changes to the accessory dwelling unit bylaw) will be moved for indefinite postponement at town meeting; Articles 55 (multifamily height/bulk reduction), 57 (nonconforming structures housekeeping) and 58 (allow finishing basements without a special permit) were recommended for approval by the planning board, select board and finance committee.
Town Administrator Jay McGrail said the select board, planning board and Zoning Board of Appeals agreed to propose indefinite postponement for Articles 53 and 54, which would have amended the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bylaw. "So unanimously, we have agreement at this point that we're gonna propose indefinitely postponement," McGrail said, and he said a formal motion for indefinite postponement will be made at the start of those articles at town meeting.
Emily Mitchell explained the moderator's typical sequence for motions (Moderator Michael Ford): the moderator first seeks a positive motion (usually from the finance committee, then the select board, then the floor); if no positive motion is offered, the moderator returns to the finance committee for an indefinite postponement motion. Mitchell said the apparent consensus among boards makes indefinite postponement for Articles 53 and 54 likely.
Christine Flynn described Article 55 as an amendment to reduce allowed height and bulk for multifamily special-permit projects in 12 of 14 zoning districts. The proposal would lower the maximum height from 40 feet to 30 feet and reduce allowed building mass from 3.5 stories to 2.5 stories to make multifamily projects more consistent with single-family neighborhood character. Flynn said the finance committee, select board and planning board recommended approval of Article 55.
Flynn characterized Article 57 as a housekeeping amendment removing a sentence in Section 3.25.54(a)(5)(e) to make local zoning consistent with Massachusetts General Laws and the state building code, streamlining permitting for property owners. She described Article 58 similarly: removing language that required homeowners who finish basements to apply for a special permit through the Zoning Board of Appeals, which would allow finishing basements without that special-permit step.
Mitchell reminded listeners that zoning bylaw amendments require a two-thirds affirmative vote at town meeting and that the Attorney General's Office reviews proposed zoning bylaw changes after town meeting; the AG's office must complete its review within 90 days of submission.
The articles will appear on the warrant for the upcoming town meeting; formal motions and any votes will occur at that meeting.
