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Planning Board reviews Attorney General comments on ADU bylaw and flags state guidance gaps for solar rules
Summary
Planning Director Michelle Buck told the board that the Attorney General’s Dec. 19, 2025 partial approval of Wilbraham’s ADU bylaw requires removing the word “single‑family,” eliminating a universal ADU parking requirement, and deleting Section 4.10.4; the board also discussed General Code recodification and uncertainty around forthcoming state solar permitting guidelines.
At its Jan. 7 meeting the Wilbraham Planning Board reviewed several proposed zoning bylaw amendments and related housekeeping items, including changes to the town’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bylaw after an Attorney General review, a General Code recodification warrant article, and uncertainty about forthcoming state guidance on consolidated solar permitting.
Planning Director Michelle R. Buck said the Attorney General issued a partial approval and comments on Dec. 19, 2025 that require several changes to the ADU bylaw previously approved at the May 17, 2025 Annual Town Meeting (Article 34). The required changes she described include deleting the word "single‑family," removing a universal requirement for one ADU parking space, and deleting Section 4.10.4 (Relationship to Nonconformities). Ms. Buck said the town could reintroduce a parking requirement at a subsequent Town Meeting but would need to include a notation that parking cannot be required for ADUs within a half mile of a transit station.
On recodification, Ms. Buck described the General Code warrant article as lengthy but primarily administrative — intended to fix typographical errors and correct state agency names. For solar and battery energy storage, she said the state has not yet released consolidated permitting guidelines or a sample local bylaw; she recommended the board consider language deferring to state regulation where local bylaw and new state rules conflict, but said she would consult Town Counsel before drafting final language.
Why it matters: Changes to the ADU bylaw affect how property owners can create accessory units and local parking expectations; state solar permitting guidance could require additional revisions to local ordinances.
Next steps: Ms. Buck will consult with Town Counsel about Section 4.10.4 and propose revised language or deletion as required. The Planning Board will consider warrant articles for the General Code recodification and any solar-related updates once state guidance and counsel input are available.
