[Massplanners] Legal ad for ADU zoning changes?

Wed Feb 26 11:08:33 EST 2025

Excellent!! Thank you all so much, I really appreciate your help and
feedback!!! Super helpful.
Maria De La Fuente
Medfield Director of Land Use and Planning
459 Main Street
Medfield, MA  02052
(508) 906-3027
mdelafuente at medfield.net <sraposa at medfield.net>

On Wed, Feb 26, 2025 at 11:01 AM Maren Toohill <MToohill at littletonma.org>
wrote:

> It is my understanding that the legal notice does not bind the Board (or
> Town Meeting) actions. It is a notice to the public regarding the zoning
> that the Board is contemplating and announces the date and time for public
> input and discussion. Changes during the public hearing and town meeting
> can bring the bylaw to the “more lenient” or “less restrictive” direction
> without triggering the need to publish a new notice. If a zoning bylaw
> amendment becomes more restrictive than the notice says – only then would
> you run into a question for the AG’s office on whether a new notice is
> recommended. And then, it’s not an automatic, but a question you would want
> to discuss with the Municipal Law Unit of the AG’s office – (very
> knowledgeable and friendly staff, by the way).
>
> Best of luck with it!
>
> Maren
>
> Maren A. Toohill, AICP
>
> Town Planner
>
> 978/540-2425
>
> MToohill at littletonma.org
>
> Town of Littleton
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> *On Behalf Of *Maria
> De La Fuente via MassPlanners
> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 26, 2025 9:50 AM
> *To:* Judi Barrett <judi at barrettplanningllc.com>
> *Cc:* massplanners at masscptc.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Massplanners] Legal ad for ADU zoning changes?
>
>
>
>
>
> *Warning –* THIS EMAIL WAS SENT BY AN EXTERNAL SENDER
>
>
>
> Hi Judi,
>
>
>
> The issue is that what I wrote in my detailed legal ad may change. For
> example, the Board may choose that conversions of pre-existing carriage
> houses should be allowed by-right instead of SPA, or that we do not want to
> allow ADUs larger than 900 SF at all--- if the Boards think of changing
> anything substantial in the draft bylaw, then the legal ad would be
> inaccurate. I don't want to send in a legal ad that would bind the Boards
> to draft the bylaws a certain way-- that's their decision and not mine as
> staff. I don't see how I can send in a detailed ad and not be put in an
> awkward position.
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
> Maria De La Fuente
> Medfield Director of Land Use and Planning
> 459 Main Street
> Medfield, MA  02052
> (508) 906-3027
> mdelafuente at medfield.net <sraposa at medfield.net>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 26, 2025 at 9:33 AM Judi Barrett <judi at barrettplanningllc.com>
> wrote:
>
> Maria,
>
>
>
> I recommend the more detailed version.
>
>
>
> Judi Barrett
>
> Barrett Planning Group LLC
>
> 350 Lincoln Street, Suite 2503
>
> Hingham, MA 02043
>
> (P): 781-934-0073, #7
>
> (C): 781-206-6045
>
> judi at barrettplanningllc.com
>
>
>
> [image: Logo, company name Description automatically generated]
>
> *From: *MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> on behalf of
> Maria De La Fuente via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org>
> *Date: *Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 09:04
> *To: *massplanners at masscptc.org <massplanners at masscptc.org>
> *Subject: *[Massplanners] Legal ad for ADU zoning changes?
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I need to submit the legal ad for our new ADU bylaw by the end of this
> week. However, we still haven't had an extensive discussion on the matter,
> and we’re waiting for HLC’s info session on March 11th to gain more
> clarity. We’re aiming to hold a joint PB/ZBA meeting on Mach 17, and our
> own public hearing on March 24th—the latest possible date to still meet all
> Warrant Committee and printing deadlines.
>
> My main question is: *how detailed does a legal ad for a zoning change
> need to be?* Initially, I had drafted language simply stating that the
> changes were “to conform to the new state law,” (and cited all appropriate
> State codes) but Counsel advised that much more detail is required. I can
> add a lot more details based on my current draft, but since we are still
> awaiting further guidance on the new law and regulations, my draft may need
> revisions after the March 11th webinar. I want to provide as much detail as
> possible, but the reality is that I'm unclear on the details until further
> meetings are held throughout March.
>
> *What happens if I submit a legal ad that later turns out to be inaccurate
> due to further revisions? How are other communities handling this
> situation?*
>
> For reference, here's my original legal ad
> <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y3m20Z_1maHB07d2PTA_GRpjB2s31lFX/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103443541894153033126&rtpof=true&sd=true>,
> and here's my more detailed ad.
> <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wNXU2sADs1_nQmb1GkHrEMv2OfvqqFjf/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103443541894153033126&rtpof=true&sd=true>
>
> Looking forward to your thoughts.
>
> Maria De La Fuente
> Medfield Director of Land Use and Planning
> 459 Main Street
> Medfield, MA  02052
> (508) 906-3027
> mdelafuente at medfield.net <sraposa at medfield.net>
>
>
>
> This email is intended for municipal use only and must comply with the
> Town of Medfield's policies and state/federal laws. Under Massachusetts
> Law, any email created or received by an employee of The Town of  Medfield
> is considered a public record.  All email correspondence is subject to the
> requirements of M.G.L. Chapter 66. This email may contain confidential and
> privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review
> or distribution by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the
> intended recipient please contact the sender and delete all copies.
>
>
>
>
>
> This email is intended for municipal use only and must comply with the
> Town of Medfield's policies and state/federal laws. Under Massachusetts
> Law, any email created or received by an employee of The Town of  Medfield
> is considered a public record.  All email correspondence is subject to the
> requirements of M.G.L. Chapter 66. This email may contain confidential and
> privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review
> or distribution by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the
> intended recipient please contact the sender and delete all copies.
>
>
>

-- 
This email is intended for municipal use only and must comply with the Town 
of Medfield's policies and state/federal laws. Under Massachusetts Law, any 
email created or received by an employee of The Town of  Medfield is 
considered a public record.  All email correspondence is subject to the 
requirements of M.G.L. Chapter 66. This email may contain confidential and 
privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review 
or distribution by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the 
intended recipient please contact the sender and delete all copies.

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