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Board extends 161 Chestnut ADU review while seeking written counsel on existing unit status
Summary
The board agreed to extend the application deadline to Sept. 30, 2026, and continue the public hearing after town counsel advised that an existing unit above a garage may already qualify as a protected ADU; applicants, neighbors and counsel asked for written clarification.
Max of Grady Consulting (Speaker 12) presented site revisions for 161 Chestnut Street, noting expanded vicinity mapping and proposed screening: "We showed... we're proposing 15 arborvitae, 3 foot on center, to help screen from the abutting properties," he said.
The hearing became contentious when staff/counsel (Speaker 8) indicated that an existing unit above the garage had been deemed a protected ADU under state law, which could bar a second protected ADU on the same lot. Opponents asked for a written opinion and asked whether removing a stove would remove the unit’s protected status; the board voted to extend the application deadline to 09/30/2026 and continue the hearing to allow time to obtain written counsel and for the parties to confer.
