[Massplanners] Seasonal Dwelling Units

[Daniel Fortier]

Will totally depend on your Zoning.  If you are trying to control how a
development can be used in one part of a Zoning District that would be
different in another part of that same District it will fail. Now in Dennis
there were cottage colonies that were first established under a provision
that essentially started them as "businesses legal in the Commonwealth."
When Zoning in these areas was adopted in 1973 these "businesses" as they
did not conform to the 1973 densities, or earlier standards of 5,000 sf per
dwelling,  they were restricted as seasonal.

In 2010 we adopted a Zoning provision specifically tied to these areas and
designated it a Seasonal Resort District. That Zoning specifically
restricts year round access. One Colony was redeveloped under the by-law,
Heritage Sands. It took an RV park and turned it into modern cottages.  Tax
value jumped from about $2 million to overb$60 million. The property is
accessible long enough for the residents to establish it as their residence
for voting but must be closed January through March.

Dan Fortier,  AICP
Retired Planner

On Fri, Jul 26, 2024, 2:23 PM Andrew Groff via MassPlanners <
massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:

> Happy Friday Planners -
> Another end of week question. First time this topic has crossed my desk,
> thinking some of our Cape or other coastal colleagues might have seen this
> in the past. We are assisting a small neighboring town with a potential
> condominium project. The town is very concerned about the cost of future
> school tuition payments for new residents of the proposed complex. They're
> looking to see if the municipality can stipulate that a resort development
> be designated for seasonal use only. I have heard of such a thing in other
> states, one example comes to mind in Maine that's a summer only situation.
> Is anyone aware of such a legal arrangement being in place in for a
> development in Massachusetts? Thinking there's multiple issues here that
> make this problematic. Hoping to hear anyone else's experience before
> delving deeper into finding answers.
> Thanks!
> Andrew
> --
> *Town of Williamstown*
> Community Development Dept.
> Andrew Groff, A.I.C.P.
> Director
> 31 North Street
> Williamstown, Mass. 01267
> (413) 597-8284
> -----------------
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