Planning director warns Middlesex of state changes on housing, ADUs and solar
Planning Director David Kretz and the County Attorney briefed supervisors on recent state legislation that reduces local site-plan review authority, requires permissive treatment of ADUs, limits conditions for denying large solar projects and treats battery storage as an accessory use — prompting a recommended code audit before July 1 effective dates.
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David Kretz, Middlesex’s Director of Planning and Community Development, told the Board that recent state legislation will require a review and likely revisions to the county code. Among the changes he described: temporary authorization (through Jan. 1, 2031) allowing certain religious and tax-exempt organizations to develop higher-density housing on their property; removal of Planning Commission authority over site plans and subdivisions in favor of administrative approval; more restrictive standards for local conditions when denying large solar special exceptions and treating battery storage as an accessory use to solar (subject to site plan and stormwater review); more permissive rules for accessory dwelling units; and a requirement that manufactured homes be allowed where conventional dwellings are permitted.
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