The Rindge Planning Board is proposing several changes to the town’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance, including allowing larger dimensions and eliminating the need for a special exception to build one.
The board held a public hearing on Tuesday to receive public feedback on the proposed update. There were no comments in the brief meeting and the board voted 4-0 to approve the language of the amendments and forward it to the March Town Meeting warrant as written.
Rindge Planning Director Al Bump said some of the changes are necessary to bring the town into compliance with state laws surrounding ADUs, in particular, the town’s size limits.
Currently, the gross living area of an ADU must be larger than 300 square feet, and no more than 750 square feet when the principal home is smaller than 2,250 square feet. In the case of larger homes, the ADU cannot be greater than one-third of the total floor area of the main home.
The new language would allow up to 950 square feet for homes up to 2,850 square feet.
Within the same amendment, the language would be updated to allow either an attached or detached ADU. The current language does not specify whether detached ADUs are allowed.
There will also no longer be a requirement that a homeowner has to go through a special exception process to build an ADU, replacing it with a requirement for a building permit.
Other rules related to ADUs will remain the same, including only allowing one per residence, and allowing them in the residential, residential/agricultural, village and college districts, and only on single-family residential properties. The rules also require the owner of the property to reside in either the main home or the ADU, and that an interconnected fire alarm system, two exits, and at least one off-street parking space per unit are included.
Zoning amendments must be approved by a majority of the voting public in a ballot vote in March.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.