Stockbridge planning commission narrows zoning update and excludes accessory dwelling units

The Village of Stockbridge Planning Commission on May 1 restricted its immediate ordinance review to redline revisions of Article 6 and Article 7 and voted to exclude accessory dwelling units (ADUs) from the current zoning update.

Commissioner James Johnson proposed excluding ADUs from this round of updates because of concerns that the village’s current enforcement capacity could allow ADUs to convert into unregulated rental units. Zoning Administrator Katrina Griffith and Village President Jill Ogden expressed similar enforcement and oversight concerns; the commission recorded a voice vote of 4 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstention to exclude ADUs from the present update.

The commission also agreed to rename and reorganize Article 6 from “Subdivision Control” to “Use Standards” to group related regulations for clarity. As part of that reorganization, commissioners directed that accessory and outdoor-use sections be alphabetized for consistency, with new items appended to avoid frequent re-lettering.

Several administrative and use-standard items were settled or advanced in the same discussion. The body approved changing the terminology from “right-of-way licensing” to “right-of-way permit,” assigning issuance authority to the zoning administrator based on a submitted plot plan, with appeal possible to the village council. Commissioners said a new permit form should be created to support the change. The zoning administrator will also be the first reviewer for outdoor dining permits and renewals; the village council retains final approval for outdoor dining areas, and the Department of Public Works may be asked for maintenance input.

On housing-related uses, the commission clarified that the state enhancement grant encourages discussion of housing options but does not compel the village to adopt increased density measures. The commission agreed to add the MSHDA-required quarterly grant report as a standing agenda item to track progress.

Other use standards discussed included foster care facilities, bed-and-breakfast limits, home-based auto repair, kennel rules and self-storage screening. Commissioners reviewed state requirements for foster care: facilities with six or fewer residents may be permitted in certain areas while facilities with more than six require local approval before state licensing. Using a guideline of 1,500 square feet per resident, commissioners noted a six-resident facility would need roughly 9,000 square feet. For bed-and-breakfasts, the commission recommended limiting guest rooms to three while maintaining a guest cap of 10. Home-based auto repair was debated—possible restrictions discussed included indoor-only work, one vehicle at a time and limited hours—but the topic was tabled for further consideration.

The commission tightened kennel regulations to reduce neighborhood impacts: kennels will not be allowed in R1 residential zoning, will be permitted in L1 and C2 zones, hours of operation will end at 8 p.m. (reduced from 9 p.m.), and exercise-area setbacks were increased from 50 to 100 feet. Self-storage facilities will be required to have six-foot, zero-opacity fencing, although a greenbelt may be permitted with planning commission approval.

The commission’s staff consultant, Mario A. Ortega of McKenna, apologized for not circulating a redline of Article 3 and committed to providing both redline and clean versions before the next meeting. Commissioners scheduled the next regular meeting for June 5, 2025.

The action to exclude ADUs and the administrative wording changes are procedural steps; the commission did not adopt ADU regulations and left enforcement and further substantive rulemaking for later meetings.