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Board reviews final ADU local law language, proposes application cap and waiver recommendations
Summary
Staff updated the board on a near‑final accessory dwelling unit (ADU) local law that includes two waiver clauses requiring written recommendations from the Department of Community Development Conservation and a proposed cap of 15 applications with a sunset clause; staff will track statistics and return with implementation data after year one.
Staff briefed the board on the ADU local law following a public hearing and described drafted language intended to guide planning‑board waivers and program limits. The draft requires a written recommendation from the Department of Community Development Conservation before the planning board may grant certain height or setback waivers, a change staff said was meant to provide a written record rather than rely on verbal input.
The draft also includes a cap on the number of ADU applications (the staff recommendation cited the number 15) and a sunset clause so the board can reassess the cap after an initial period. A proposed negative declaration (environmental review) is included in the resolution package related to the local law. Staff said it will collect statistics and return after the first year with data to inform any adjustments.
Board members agreed the cap and waiver language can be adjusted by subsequent resolution and asked staff to finalize the language, including clear administrative procedures for receiving and logging waiver recommendations.
