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Willington planning commission adopts middle‑housing amendment ahead of July 1 state deadline
Summary
The Willington Planning & Zoning Commission closed a public hearing and voted to adopt text amendment PZ‑26‑6 to section 11.20 to implement Special Session Act 25‑1, setting an effective date of June 30, 2026 and incorporating staff edits on unit size, conversion standards and objective summary‑review criteria.
The Willington Planning & Zoning Commission voted June 16 to adopt a text amendment to section 11.20 implementing Special Session Act 25‑1 and set an effective date of June 30, 2026 so the town’s rules align with state requirements that take effect July 1.
Staff told the commission the draft follows a statewide template and highlights recent changes. "I drafted the template after the bill was passed because I realized that everybody was going to be moving to this deadline," the staff member said, explaining edits shown in yellow and how the changes limit application of the new middle‑housing allowances primarily to commercial‑designated zones.
The amendment requires the town to allow certain middle‑housing forms in qualifying zones while preserving objective limits under a summary‑review process. Staff recommended a 1,600‑square‑foot cap on individual cottage‑cluster units to prevent large single‑family‑scale construction on a single parcel, saying, "those units don't exceed 1600 square ft." The draft also removes discretionary referral language for positions the town does not have and refines inter‑agency referral to the zoning agent, town engineer and fire marshal.
To prevent low‑quality conversions of commercial buildings into residences, the commission adopted staff‑proposed baseline standards for conversions, including landscape buffering, lighting, operable windows and a suggested 500 square feet of usable green space per unit. Staff said those elements are intended to ensure livability even when buildings qualify for summary review without a public hearing.
A commissioner moved that the commission accept the amendment "incorporating the edits" discussed; another seconded the motion and the commission approved it by voice vote. The motion sets the amendment’s effective date for June 30, 2026.
The commission closed the public hearing before moving to other business. Staff and members acknowledged the approach is prescriptive to fit the constraints of summary review and left open the possibility of future adjustments if practical experience requires changes.
Next steps: the adopted language goes on the town record with the stated effective date; staff will maintain records of referrals and any future proposed amendments as the town implements the new state requirement.
