For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in the Town of
Barnstable, please visit
www.BarnstableHealth.com.
Updates
At the
May 6, 2021 meeting,
the Town Council introduced proposed
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 the Planning
Board.
Item 2021-174 - Proposed Accessory Dwelling
Units (ADUs) Ordinance
Item 2021-175 - Proposed relief by special
permit for ADUs greater than 900 square feet
On May
24, 2021, the Planning Board will hold a public
hearing on the proposed zoning amendments.
The
meeting will be televised live on Channel 18 in
Barnstable and may be viewed via the Channel 18
website at
http://streaming85.townofbarnstable.us/CablecastPublicSite/.
You can submit comment on
these items to the Planning Board in the
following ways:
Background
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.
Calendar
January
25, 2021: The Planning Board, in
collaboration with the Planning & Development
Department, held a community meeting on
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
Watch Meeting Video
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.
May 24,
2021: The Planning Board will hold a public
hearing on the proposed amendments to the zoning
ordinance to allow Accessory Dwelling Units
(ADUs) as an accessory use to a single-family
residential dwelling.
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 is considering an amendment to the zoning ordinance to allow Accessory Dwelling Units as an accessory use to a single-family residential dwelling.
An updated draft (April 23rd) of the ordinance can be viewed here: ADU Zoning Amendment Draft
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.The draft ordinance under consideration was put forward by that Subcommittee.
Cape Cod Commission Model Ordinance
The Planning Board, with the Planning & Development Department, held a community meeting on Accessory Dwelling Units on January 25, 2021. The meeting video and a copy of the PowerPoint presentation is provided below.
Planning Board - Accessory Dwelling Unit Informational Meeting 01-25-2021
Watch Meeting Video
The Town has put together a frequently asked questions guide to help answer many of the questions. (Updated April 23)
ADU Frequently Asked QuestionsThe 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 strong>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
