<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Hi Chris,<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I believe that a group home for the disabled (including those who are recovering from addition) is protected by the federal fair housing act, and must be treated as if it is a single family home. I don’t think it is 40A, Section 3 that protects this use, but federal law instead. My experience has been that most municipal attorneys agree that we need to grant these sort of uses the ability to be considered single-family, regardless of other language to the contrary in local zoning. <div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The most relevant case on this issue is a US Supreme Court case, here: <a href="https://oxfordhouse.org/doc/edmonds.pdf" class="">https://oxfordhouse.org/doc/edmonds.pdf</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">And - with the caveat that this is written by a group home operator, for the most part this page is a pretty good resource on what you can and cannot do with a group home:</div><div class=""><a href="https://oxfordhouse.org/ohrol" class="">https://oxfordhouse.org/ohrol</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">And - with that said - always good to chat with a city solicitor or town counsel to confirm. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Thanks,</div><div class="">George Proakis</div><div class="">Somerville, MA</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Nov 12, 2021, at 8:24 AM, Christopher Skelly via MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org" class="">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class="">
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<div style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" class=""><div style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;" class="">I am reviewing a community residence/group home bylaw that a planning board would like to revise. The bylaw regulates a community
residence or group home through a special permit process. The bylaw is over 40 years old. I have included it below. </span></div>
<br class=""><div style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;" class="">Am I correct in believing that the Dover Amendment would exempt such uses under zoning? I have various concerns over this bylaw
and feel that it should be replaced in its entirety. <br class="">
</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><br class="">
</div><div style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;" class="">The planning board would like to see examples from around the state that cover community residences/group homes.
<br class="">
</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;" class=""><br class="">
</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;" class="">I would welcome your thoughts. Chris.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><br class="">
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<b class=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">§89-1.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes" class="">
</span>Definitions.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 6pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 6pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">COMMUNITY RESIDENCE or GROUP HOME -- A residential facility which is designed to house five (5) or more persons under supervision and licensed by the appropriate agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<b class=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">§89-2.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes" class="">
</span>Number of residents limited.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 6pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">The number of residents, including live-in staff, in all group homes shall not exceed in total one percent (1%) of the population of the town as determined by the most recent federal census.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<b class=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">§89-3.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes" class="">
</span>Yard requirements.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 6pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">A community residence or group home housing five (5) persons must have frontage of at least one hundred (100) feet, setback of at least fifty (50) feet and side lines of at least fifty (50) feet. Side
lines shall be increased five (5) feet for every individual beyond five (5) living in the facility.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<b class=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">§89-4.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes" class="">
</span>Off-street parking.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 6pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">There shall be ample off-street parking to accommodate the staff and guests of the facility.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<b class=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">§89-5.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes" class="">
</span>Special permit required; public hearing; required information.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 6pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">A community residence or group home shall be authorized only by special permit issued by the Board of Selectmen after a public hearing duly called and held with written notice to the abutters, at which
hearing the applicant for a community residence or group home shall submit an informational statement including the following:<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 6pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 63pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">A.<span style="mso-tab-count:1" class="">
</span>Increase in vehicular traffic.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 63pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">B.<span style="mso-tab-count:1" class="">
</span>Changes in numbers of legal residents.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 63pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">C.<span style="mso-tab-count:1" class="">
</span>Effect on municipal services and usage.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 63pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">E.<span style="mso-tab-count:1" class="">
</span>Effect on public utilities.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 63pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">F.<span style="mso-tab-count:1" class="">
</span>Changes in tax revenue.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 63pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">G.<span style="mso-tab-count:1" class="">
</span>Listing of all required licenses and permits.<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 63pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt; line-height: 12pt;" class="">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt" class="">H.<span style="mso-tab-count:1" class="">
</span>Compliance with Title V, General Laws, Chapter 21A (State Environmental Code).<o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times, serif;" class="">
<o:p class=""> </o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family:"Arial Black",Arial,sans-serif; font-size:10pt" class=""></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Arial Black", Arial, sans-serif;" class="">Chris Skelly, Project Specialist</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Arial Black", Arial, sans-serif;" class="">
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