Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board members flag cottage-court overlay for later review after mixed reactions
Summary
Several planning board members said the cottage-court overlay—used to allow small-scale multifamily units in low-density zones—may need refinement after the mixed reaction and split vote on PB-26-16. The board suggested staff and members revisit the overlay after 12 months to assess whether it meets intended goals.
During closing business, several board members raised concerns about how the newly adopted cottage-court overlay is being used for both small conversions and larger projects. Member Michael Hafer and others noted the ordinance is producing ‘‘growing pains’’ and may be producing outcomes the board did not originally intend.
Senior planner Mary Brenner and other members agreed that monitoring the overlay’s use over the coming year would be appropriate. Brenner said staff can review how the cottage-court standards are applied and bring suggested code clarifications to the board if patterns suggest the ordinance needs refinement.
The discussion was framed as exploratory: no formal motion or changes were proposed at the meeting, but members asked staff to track how cottage-court petitions perform during their first 12 months in practice and to return with any recommended adjustments.
