Welcome to The Town of Barnstable.
The Town of Barnstable advertised a public hearing to consider zoning amendments allowing Accessory Dwelling Units for an in-person Town Council meeting on July 1st. On June 16th, the Governor signed a bill allowing public meetings to continue to be held remotely. In order to maximize the opportunity for public participation, the public hearing on the ADU zoning amendments has been rescheduled for July 15th and the hearing will be held remotely, via Zoom.
On July 15, 2021 at 7:00 PM the Town Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) zoning amendments. Please find details for joining the Public Hearing below:
Town of Barnstable Town Council
Public Hearing on Items 2021-174 and 2021-175 – Accessory Dwelling Units
Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting ID 926 0239 8466
888 475 4499 US Toll-free
You can submit comment on these items to the Town Council in the following ways:
The Town is currently in
the process of considering an amendment to the
zoning ordinance to allow
Accessory
Dwelling Units (ADUs) as an accessory use to
a single-family residential dwelling.
Draft ADU Zoning Amendment as of April 30th
An initial review of the
Cape Cod Commission's model ordinance and
discussion of policy issues was conducted by the
Town Council's Zoning
& Regulatory Subcommittee in 2020. The draft
ordinance for consideration was put forward by
that Subcommittee. The draft was then
referred to Town staff for technical and legal
review, as well as review against the new
"Housing Choice" legislation adopted by the
Commonwealth on January 14, 2021.
Cape Cod Commission's Model ADU Ordinance
The proposed zoning
amendment will be reviewed at Planning Board and
Town Council as two items: Town Council Item No.
2021-174 and Town Council Item No. 2021-175. The
recently adopted "Housing Choice" legislation
reduces the vote required for
adoption of a zoning amendment allowing 'as of
right' ADUs from a two-thirds majority vote to a
simple majority vote in an effort to encourage
new housing production. The first item, No.
2021-174, proposes adding Accessory Dwelling
Units (ADUs) to the Town's zoning ordinance
which, per the recent legislation, requires a
simple majority vote. The second item, No.
2021-175, modifies the proposed Accessory
Dwelling Units (ADUs) ordinance to incorporate a
provision for the ability to seek relief by
special permit for ADUs greater than 900 square
feet. This provision diverges from the "Housing
Choice" legislation which defines an ADU as
being 900 square feet and thus is required to be
voted upon separately as a two-thirds majority
vote.
Please see the Town Council Rationales as
well as the Planning Board Staff Reports for
each of the items, as listed below:
Item 2021-174 - Proposed Accessory Dwelling
Units (ADUs) Ordinance
Item 2021-175 - Proposed relief by special
permit for ADUs greater than 900 square feet
January
25, 2021: The Planning Board, in
collaboration with the Planning & Development
Department, held a community meeting on
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
May 6,
2021: The Town Council introduced amendments
to the zoning ordinance to allow Accessory
Dwelling Units (ADUs) as an accessory use to a
single-family residential dwelling.
The Town Council affirmatively voted to refer
the proposed ADU zoning amendments to Planning
Board.
At the May 24, 2021 meeting, the Planning Board affirmatively voted to recommend Item 2021-174 to Town Council as written with a modification to 240-47.2(C)(11) to revise the rental period for an ADU and for a principal dwelling from not shorter than 12 consecutive months to not shorter than 6 consecutive months. The Planning Board affirmatively voted to recommend Item 2021-175 to Town Council as written.
On July 15, 2021 at 7:00 PM the Town Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) zoning amendments.
The Town has put together a frequently asked questions guide to help answer many of the questions. (Updated May 10th)
ADU Frequently Asked Questions
The Town posted an online forum to allow residents to comment on ADUs.
ADU Online Forum Questions & Comments
To help keep the public informed of zoning issues in Barnstable, the Town is now offering e-mail notices of current and upcoming zoning amendment proposals and related meetings. Sign up HERE.
Contact:
Town Staff: Elizabeth Jenkins, AICP, Director of Planning & Development, 508-862-4735, elizabeth.jenkins@town.barnstable.ma.us
Photo credit: ABCs of ADUs