[Massplanners] Zoning amendments for 2-family houses etc.

[Wiener, Laura]

Arlington (where I live and serve on Town Meeting) had a Town Meeting warrant article this past spring  to allow 2 families in single family zones with all of the same requirements.  It was very controversial, and did not pass, but got roughly 49% approval.

Laura Wiener, AICP
Senior Transportation Planner
Watertown Department of Community Development and Planning
149 Main Street
Watertown, MA  02472
617 972-6417 * 12183

From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of cyberburke--- via MassPlanners
Sent: Thursday, July 7, 2022 8:55 AM
To: 'Daniel Fortier' <daniel.j.fortier at gmail.com>; 'Cathy Perry' <cathy.perry2 at outlook.com>; massplanners at masscptc.org
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] Zoning amendments for 2-family houses etc.

Dan,

In Groton two family allowed by right with same minimum lot size as single family.

Russell J. Burke, AICP
Special Projects Manager
PO Box 60658 / Worcester, MA 01606
O: 617-896-4300 / D: 617-896-4510 / C: 617-633-3590
rburke at bscgroup.com<mailto:rburke at bscgroup.com>
www.bscgroup.com<http://www.bscgroup.com/>
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From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>> On Behalf Of Daniel Fortier via MassPlanners
Sent: Thursday, July 7, 2022 8:48 AM
To: Cathy Perry <cathy.perry2 at outlook.com<mailto:cathy.perry2 at outlook.com>>; massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] Zoning amendments for 2-family houses etc.

So, let’s take this a bit further, Dennis “allows” two-family by-right. Sorta Kinda. Our zoning requires 40,000 sf per dwelling unit. So, a by-right one-family structure requires 40,000 sf, but if you have 80,000 sf you can build a two-family.  I hardly view this as providing for the missing middle housing.

Are the communities that have responded so far looking at two-family homes being allowed by-right on lots that meet the same requirements as a single family home?

Thanks in advance!

Dan Fortier
Retired
Interim Dennis Planner

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From: Cathy Perry via MassPlanners<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 4:38 PM
To: massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: [Massplanners] Zoning amendments for 2-family houses etc.

Bedford would be interested in hearing from any towns that have amended their zoning to make it easier to build 2-family houses in traditionally (or most recently) single family districts. This might mean allowing them where they've been prohibited or reducing the restrictions/ conditions that apply. The only one I'm aware of is Concord.
Also we're interested in examples of towns that have reverted to earlier denser zoning for residential areas that have mainly non-conforming lots.

Catherine Perry AICP
Assistant Planner
Town of Bedford

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