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Select Board sends seasonal‑community designation to April town meeting
Summary
After receiving a designation letter from the state, the Select Board voted to add an article to the April 2026 town meeting warrant to accept seasonal‑community status — a step that would enable state tools such as year‑round occupancy restrictions, tiny house zoning and a year‑round housing trust if adopted by town meeting and follow‑on local bylaws.
The Select Board voted Jan. 5 to place an article on the April 2026 town meeting warrant to accept a state designation of Falmouth as a "seasonal community." Town staff said the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities granted the designation based on the town’s percentage of short‑term rentals and seasonal housing stock, and described statutory opportunities that flow from acceptance.
Town staff explained benefits the designation could enable if town meeting and local zoning actions follow, including the option to adopt year‑round occupancy restrictions on certain units, establish a year‑round housing trust fund, permit tiny houses for year‑round occupancy, and create preferences for essential public workers. Town counsel and staff emphasized that accepting the designation sends the question to the legislative body (town meeting) and that any required zoning changes would still need to be adopted locally; if the town does not adopt the accompanying local zoning changes, the designation could be forfeited.
Select Board members who spoke expressed support for advancing the question to town meeting and for the potential to prioritize housing for essential public workers. The board voted to add the article and directed the town manager to draft the warrant language for February action to finalize the April warrant.
