Select Board opens contentious ADU hearing and approves setback change to speed heat-pump, EV installations

On April 9 the Select Board held a lengthy public hearing on a Housing Advisory Board petition (Warrant Article 13) to ease accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules. Petitioner Roger Blood proposed raising the as-of-right ADU maximum to 900 square feet (or 40% of floor area), allowing a deed-restricted 80% AMI option for non-owner‑occupied units, and removing a five‑year owner-occupancy lookback. Supporters described the changes as ways to create modest additional units and bring existing unpermitted ADUs into compliance; opponents and multiple residents warned that investor-driven purchases could accelerate teardowns, flips and loss of lower‑priced single-family housing stock. The board and commenters also discussed the risk of state ADU legislation preempting local rules and asked town counsel and staff to clarify legal interactions and voting thresholds for town meeting.

During the same meeting, Wendy Stahl and the Zero Emissions Advisory Board presented Warrant Article 14 to reduce the zoning setback for electrification equipment (heat-pump condensers and EV chargers) from 6 feet to 2 feet from side and rear lot lines for most smaller residential properties. Stahl presented noise comparisons and exempted larger multifamily buildings (7+ units) and certain equipment types; advisory committee and planning board had recommended favorable action. The Select Board voted favorable action on Article 14.

The ADU petition will continue through the advisory-committee process and Town Meeting; board members asked staff for a memo on the town’s zoning mix to inform future votes and directed outreach on the pending advisory‑committee amendments.