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PB Hearing on Proposed Accessory Apartments Zoning Amendments

Public Hearing Notice
Proposed Zoning Amendments –
Accessory Apartments
In accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 40A, §§ 5 and 11, the Groton Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 12, 2020, at 7:10 PM in the Town Hall, 173 Main Street, to consider the following proposed zoning amendments: ARTICLE 1 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw by deleting Section 218-16.D, Accessory Apartments, in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
1. “218-9.4 Attached Accessory Apartment 218-9.4.1 Purpose
a. To provide homeowners of a single-family dwelling larger than required for present needs with a means of sharing space and the burdens of home ownership, companionship, security, and services, thereby enabling them to stay more comfortably in homes and neighborhoods they might otherwise be forced to leave.
b. Develop housing units in single family neighborhoods that are appropriate for households at a variety of stages in their life cycle.
c. Provide small additional housing units for rent without substantially altering the appearance of the Town
d. Provide housing units for persons with disabilities.
e. Protect stability, property values, and the residential
character of a neighborhood
218-9.4.2 Attached Accessory Apartment
Use of an accessory apartment, an independent dwelling unit not to exceed eight hundred (800) square feet contained within a single- family house. The unit shall have a separate entrance, a kitchen/ living room, a bathroom and a maximum of one bedroom. Either unit shall be occupied by the owner. The gross floor area shall include the interior finished habitable area to be used exclusively for the accessory apartment.
(2015 ATM, Article 42)
One Accessory apartment shall be allowed by right in the RA and RB Districts providing the following criteria are met:
a. The accessory apartment shall conform to the provisions of Title V of the State Sanitary Code, 310 CMR 15.00, and applicable regulations of the Groton Board of Health.
b. Approval from the Fire Department.
c. Building, plumbing, electrical and any other required
permits are obtained.
d. The accessory apartment is contained within a single-
family dwelling. Attached accessory apartments shall not
be permitted on lots that contain two or more dwellings.
e. All staircases required to access an accessory apartment
must not change the general appearance of a single-family
house.
f. Space may be provided by either raising the roof, or
extending the dwelling, but only in accordance with
current height and setback requirements.
g. To maintain the single-family character of the
neighborhood, the entrance to the accessory apartment should be on the side or rear, if possible, but may be through the front door, if there is a vestibule.
h. The owner of the property must occupy one of the two units, except for temporary absences.
i. Accessory Apartments are not permitted on lots which have two or more dwellings.
j. Accessory apartments shall be occupied by no more than 2 persons.
k, Sufficient and appropriate area for at least one additional parking space shall be provided by the owner to serve
the accessory apartment. Said parking space shall be constructed of materials consistent with the existing driveway and, to prevent on-street parking, and shall have vehicular access to the driveway,
l. The footprint of the structure in which the accessory apartment is to be located shall not be increased by more than 800 square feet and shall retain the appearance of a single-family structure. Any such increase in the footprint shall not exacerbate an existing nonconformity nor create a new nonconformity.
m. The provisions of MGL C. 40A, § 3 shall apply to any accessory apartments intended for occupancy by a person with a disability relative to access ramps used solely for the purpose of facilitation ingress and egress to person with physical limitations as defined in MGL C 22, § 13A.”or take any action relative thereto.
Article 2 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning By-Law of the Town of Groton by adding the following Section: “218-9.4.3 Detached Accessory Apartment
The Planning Board acting as the Special Permit Granting Authority may issue a Special Permit authorizing the installation and use of a detached accessory apartment in a detached structure on a lot containing a single-family dwelling provided the following conditions are met:
a. Conditions a–c, e, h, and j-m of Section 218-9.4.2 are met b. A plot plan of the existing dwelling unit and proposed accessory apartment shall be submitted to the Special
Permit Granting Authority, showing the location of the building on the lot, the proposed accessory apartment, location of any septic system and required parking
c. The detached accessory apartment shall be a complete, separate housekeeping unit containing a kitchen/living room, a bathroom and a maximum of one bedroom. Detached accessory apartments shall not be permitted on lots that contain two or more dwellings.
d. Detached accessory apartments shall be occupied by no more than 2 persons.
e. Off-street parking spaces shall meet the requirements of Section 218- 8.1 of these bylaws.
f. Any new construction shall be in accordance with current height and setback requirements for the district in which it is located.
g. No special permit shall be granted without a condition that the accessory apartment shall conform to the provisions
of Title V of the State Sanitary Code, 310 CMR 15.00, and applicable regulations of the Groton Board of Health.
h. Any property that has been granted a Special Permit for a detached accessory apartment shall not be further divided unless all zoning requirements can be met for the district in which it is located.
i. Prior to approval of a Special Permit for a detached accessory apartment the Board shall make the following findings:
1. The detached accessory apartment will not impair the integrity or character of the neighborhood in which it is located.
2. The detached accessory apartment will provide housing opportunities in conformance with the purpose of this Section.”
or take any action relative thereto.
Copies of the proposed zoning amendments are on file in the
Town Clerk’s office in the Town Hall. The Town of Groton does not discriminate on the basis of disability. Further, a signed translation of this public hearing will be provided for the hearing impaired upon request by contacting the ADA Coordinator at (978) 448-1105 at least one week prior to the hearing.
 
GROTON PLANNING BOARD
Russell Burke Chairman
2.21, 2.28 B

Groton Herald

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