WESTFORD — The Zoning Board reviewed the Affordable Homes Act and its impact on accessory dwelling unit allowances on Wednesday evening.
On Aug. 6, Gov. Maura Healey signed the Affordable Homes Act into law, which aims to spur additional housing stock production.
A significant change mandates accessory dwelling units be allowed “as of right” after Feb. 2, 2025. This allows the development of ADUs without certain discretionary zoning approval.
Other provisions will go into effect next year except an amendment prohibiting towns and cities from unduly regulating ADU’s, which goes into effect immediately.
“I don’t think necessarily anybody would argue that this board does at this point. You have a special permit process and you have a history of having approved accessory dwelling units in the past,” Town Planner Joseph Giniewicz told the board.
The law prohibits of cities and towns from imposing owner occupancy requirements on ADU’s or their principal dwellings, affirms the ability of municipalities to regulate or prohibit short-term rental of ADU’s and clarifies that the square footage reference in the definition applies to gross floor area.
It also prohibits local zoning boards from imposing parking requirements above one parking space per ADU except when near a commuter rail, subway station, ferry terminal, or bus station.
