In Plymouth, the Planning Board is proposing an Accessory Dwelling Unit Article for Fall Town Meeting. It will be on the agenda at their in person meeting next Tuesday.
Bobbi Clark has more:
Vice Chair of the Planning Board ,Birgitta Kuehn says the Accessory Dwelling Unit Article is a zoning bylaw change:
“The easiest way to think about it is that it’s a zoning bylaw change, that will allow something that looks like the old-fashioned in-law suite—but you don’t have to be related to the owner in order to rent it, long-term.”
Two years ago there was similar article that failed at Town Meeting.
“That was a time when we needed a super-majority in order to change zoning bylaws. That no longer exists—Massachusetts General Law has changed—and it only lost by a couple of votes. Since that time, we’ve had a pandemic. Our town has changed; we have a housing crisis in Plymouth.”
And times have changed, but concerns about such a zoning change have not. To some, it means that this article essentially allows two-family use in areas that are zoned for single residences—possibly lowering the property values of surrounding single family homes.
“I’m not going to debate property values. I don’t think that that’s the debate that comes to Town Meeting. Housing is a responsibility of the Planning Board. Property values are determined by realtors and demand.”
The Planning Board meeting at Town Hall begins at 7 PM. In Plymouth, Bobbi Clark, WATD News.
