Greenfield “Mother-In-Law” Apartments To Be Allowed By Right

By CHRIS COLLINS

(Greenfield, MA)  —  Greenfield homeowners who wish to build accessory housing units on their properties will soon be able to do so by right.

The Greenfield City Council has approved a series of zoning changes which includes amended language allowing the construction of so-called “accessory dwelling units” to existing homes without requiring a special permit. Such units, better known as “mother-in-law” apartments, allow homeowners to re-purpose excess square home footage into new housing for relatives or renters in need of small living spaces. The zoning, which took effect two years ago, only applies to homes that are owner-occupied.

The by-right zoning amendment was offered by Precinct 3 Councilor Virginia Desorgher, and was at odds with the recommendations from the city’s Planning Board, the council’s subcommittee on Economic Development, and the city’s planning director, all of which recommended including the special permit requirement.

EDC Chairman Timothy Dolan, who co-sponsored the zoning changes, said Greenfield needs to do whatever it can to add to its affordable housing stock.

“I believe the special permit process is a dis-incentive to the construction of housing,” Dolan, who represents Precinct 5, said. “And, like our zoning ordinance, rates the needs of neighbors much higher than the really desperate needs of housing in our community.”

One person who disagreed with the amendment was Precinct 9 Councilor Norman Hirschfeld, who said allowing ADU’s by right denies abutting homeowners the opportunity to argue against such development, even when it could negatively impact their properties.

“Drainage has already been an issue with at least one of these (ADU’s),” Hirschfeld said. “We can’t forget that we have a high water table in this town.”

The zoning regulations now go to Mayor Roxann Wedegartner, who, ironically, chaired the planning board when the original ADU zoning language was drafted.