Scituate planning board approves three ADUs with short-term rental bans and construction limits

The Scituate Central Planning Board approved three separate accessory dwelling unit applications on Oct. 9, imposing a common set of conditions including recorded restrictive covenants that bar short-term rentals.

At 45 Turner Road, the board approved an ADU created by a 245‑square‑foot addition to a detached accessory structure and an interior remodel yielding a total ADU area of about 741 square feet. Applicant representative Jeff Delissian told the board the lot meets R3 zoning dimensions and that four on‑site parking spaces exceed the three required. The board’s conditions require that “the ADU cannot be used for a short-term rental unit as defined by the zoning bylaw,” a restrictive covenant recorded against the property before any occupancy permit, erosion‑control measures, limits on construction hours, down‑lighting that does not shine on abutting properties, and that the decision be recorded at the registry of deeds before a building permit issues.

Trisha and John Adams described converting existing interior space at 20 Meeting House Lane into an approximately 823‑square‑foot ADU inside the principal dwelling. The board adopted findings that the ADU meets the bylaw’s 50%/900‑square‑foot size limit, required a man‑door in the garage because the garage door does not qualify as an exit, and approved the site plan with the same covenant banning short‑term rentals and the routine building‑code, health‑department, DPW water/sewer, erosion‑control, and construction‑hours conditions.

The board also approved an ADU application for a 74‑area property (applicant listed as Irene Queson) to convert a finished lower level into an approximately 670‑square‑foot ADU. As with the other approvals, the board required recording of a covenant preventing short‑term rental, compliance with board of health/building/fire/DPW requirements, erosion controls, and limits on construction noise and hours.

Board members emphasized that the covenants will run to the town and are enforceable through injunctive relief; the property owner must pay the town’s reasonable legal fees for successful enforcement of any covenant violation. Applicants were told the board’s decisions become effective after the 20‑day appeal period and recording at the registry of deeds.

The approvals were taken during the board’s regular meeting and followed staff reviews and architectural and survey plans submitted with each application. The board also reminded applicants that other departmental permits (building, plumbing, electrical, fire, health, and DPW approvals) remain required before occupancy.

The board’s actions finish administrative site‑plan review for the three ADU projects; applicants may pick up decisions from the town clerk after the appeal period and proceed to record the covenant and apply for building permits.