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Planning Board to relax ADU rules, increase allowed unit size to 950 square feet
Summary
Sanbornton Planning Board heard Fire and Highway department input that removing a shared-driveway requirement would not significantly affect permitting, and the board affirmed plans to remove the required internal doorway and increase ADU maximum living area from 850 to 950 square feet.
The Sanbornton Planning Board on June 18 discussed proposed changes to the town’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules and affirmed several revisions intended to make ADUs easier to permit.
Planning Board Assistant Stephen Laurin reported that he had asked the Fire and Highway departments about potential impacts if the ordinance removed the shared-driveway requirement. Paul Dexter of the Fire Department and Johnny VanTassel of the Highway Department said removing the shared-driveway requirement would not significantly affect their permitting requirements; VanTassel noted that eliminating the shared-driveway rule could require a second driveway access point in some cases.
The board affirmed that it intends to remove the requirement for an internal doorway between the ADU and the principal dwelling and to increase the maximum ADU living area from 850 square feet to 950 square feet. Members also agreed that the definitions of “attached” and “detached” ADUs should mirror statutory definitions.
Chairman Andy Sanborn said he will research whether driveway regulations can reference National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and return with findings at a future meeting. The board did not take a formal vote on the ADU language at the June 18 session; the changes were recorded as board intent for the next draft.
