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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Excellent question on the “un-merger” of lots. Yes, the 2024 Housing Bond Bill does include a provision to allow a new home on a lot that was previously merged due to ownership of an adjacent lot. OK, I know
I don’t have the wording right. I have been hoping for an overview/description from a land-use attorney on this matter and haven’t seen one yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">To your question on ADU’s, HLC’s ADU page outlines the new ADU requirements:
<a href="https://www.mass.gov/info-details/accessory-dwelling-units">https://www.mass.gov/info-details/accessory-dwelling-units</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Maren<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Maren A. Toohill, AICP<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Town Planner<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">978/540-2425<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:MToohill@littletonma.org"><span style="color:#0563C1">MToohill@littletonma.org</span></a>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Town of Littleton<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Matthew Benoit via MassPlanners<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 13, 2025 10:57 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> ListServ <massplanners@masscptc.org><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Massplanners] Zoning Lot un-merger<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="line-height:12.0pt;background:#FF9C9C"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#CC0000">Warning –</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> THIS EMAIL WAS SENT BY AN EXTERNAL
SENDER</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Hang on Planners, there's a lot here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Pre-existing non-conforming lots from the 50's and 60's that became non-conforming due to zoning frontage and lot size changes in the 70's and 80's. Back then, there was a grace period (term unknown, 1 year I
think) where non-conforming lots became merged once the grace period expired. Did the state just pass a law in the Housing Bond Bill Legislation that authorizes owners to unmerge them and they'd still buildable today, despite existing zoning? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Mike Duffany, President of Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts in a Fall 2024 publication of Bay State Builder from Fall 2024, states: "(Housing Bond Bill) Legislation includes the ability
to un-"merge" lots in residential districts that had been previously consolidated as a result of local zoning changes that increased the size of buildable lots."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Can anyone else confirm this? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">He also stated "the new ADU bylaw allows accessory dwelling units (ADU's) "by right" on lots of 10,000 square feet or more. I don't think this carried forward into the new regs...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Matthew C. Benoit, Notary Public<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Director of Community Development<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Town of Douglas<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">29 Depot Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Douglas MA 01516<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">508-476-4000 x 206<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:mbenoit@douglas-ma.gov">mbenoit@douglas-ma.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Town Hall Hours: </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Monday-Wednesday-Thursday: 8:30am - 4:00pm<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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