Board endorses state‑mandated ADU changes, declines to add local parking requirement

Planning staff presented required zoning amendments to bring the city's ordinance into compliance with new state law that makes municipal allowance for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) mandatory. Staff explained the local choices are limited to development standards such as minimum unit sizes and whether to require parking.

Staff told the board the state baseline sets minimum unit sizes and bedroom counts and that municipalities may choose whether to require 0, 1 or 2 parking spaces; staff recommended considering no additional parking requirement to reduce costs and barriers to ADU construction. "It's mandatory," staff said of the state change, "so it's no longer optional for cities and towns to provide for ADUs." Several board members favored minimal local requirements to encourage ADU production and to broaden year‑round housing options for seniors and multigenerational households.

After discussion the Board voted to forward a positive opinion of consistency with the comp plan to City Council on the ADU amendments as drafted, without adding a local parking requirement and using the state baseline for unit sizes. The Board noted ADUs will be limited to residential districts where short‑term rentals are already prohibited, and staff emphasized that the ADU provisions cannot be used for short‑term rental purposes under the state law.

Next steps: the Planning Board record and opinion will be transmitted to City Council for first passage and state review as required by the enabling legislation.