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Home My Public Portal About2019-04-24 Accessory Dwelling Unit Final_201907081203443049 Watertown Town Council Committee on Human Services Councilor Palomba, Chair, Councilor Bays, Secretary, Councilor Falkoff, Secretary Committee Report -April 24, 2019, 7:15 — 8:45 PM Louis P. Andrews Upper Conference Room Read: June 4, 2019 The Committee met on April 24 in the Louis P. Andrews Upper Conference Room. In attendance were: Councilor Palomba, Chair; Caroline Bays, Vice Chair; Susan Falkoff, Secretary; Councilor Vincent Piccirilli; Andrea Adams, Senior Planner, residents Jackie Dobson, Kirk Kalusian, David Stokes, Elodia Thomas, and Ann Walters; and James Freas, Deputy Planning Director for the City of Newton. The purpose of the meeting was to learn about Newton's ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT Ordinance. Mr. Frea's Power Point presentation is attached to this report. Newton has had an Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance since 1991 and updated the ordinance in 2017 to make it easier to create a unit without needing a special permit. In 2016, the average home cost in Newton was $1,100,000 and the city saw a large increase in households earning $200,000 or more. The population was also aging. Low and middle -income residents were being driven away. Newton estimates there are 600-1000 illegal accessory apartments in the city, many with safety issues, especially electrical. The Fire Department is often the city department to discover problems. Enabling accessory apartments is part of Newton's housing strategy, a low-impact way to expand options, especially for city employees, young adults and the elderly. It is also seen as a sustainable use of exiting land and buildings. The 2017 revisions were supported by housing advocates, the Council on Aging, the Historic Commission and inspectional services. In the new law, all single family and two-family homes may have an attached accessory unit by right. Detached units require a special permit and there are incentives to preserve historic carriage houses. Sometimes called the "second kitchen ordinance,"the law does not change the standard for single-family dwellings to house a maximum of one family and three unrelated adults (two families and 6 unrelated adults in a two-family dwelling). No additional parking spaces are required, short-term rentals are not allowed, and the principal building must be over four years old. Mr. Freas stressed that the number of people taking advantage of this option is small. Of 20,800 eligible properties, under 100 have been created since the program began. Yet, if offers a pathway to legalization for apartments that are currently illegal. The biggest obstacle to legalization is usually the necessity for a second means of egress. In a basement apartment, that could be a large window. Councilor Piccirilli states that in Watertown we have 7,500 1-2 family residential properties so we would not expect a large number of units to be created. The committee will consider Accessory Dwelling Units further at a future meeting. Respectfully submitted, Susan Falkoff, Secretary Accessory Dwelling Units 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- nn N-z� Implementing New Zoning for ADUs James Freas City of Newton, Dept. Planning and Development jumE 26id • dw �4r* r 1 �Jw ' A ...,.Newton Leads 2040 Al 10 A BLUE419INT TO PROMOTE AFFGiidAB E• a IV EA5E HOU51NG 6 ECOHOFIIC GROW7ki 2 Single Family Home Sales Prices Thu rrie640ir)salbs pTiCGr fOr o Sir,gl9 f0m.ly h0mit.q N9w10fi hOS $1.351 noar;y daubliyd sncca 20-03.Sor ree The Wdrr6rf Group $� MEDIAN SINgSLE FAN ILY NONE SELLING PRICE IN THOUSANDS.CITY OF NEWTON 2005-2015 $736 $753 $742 $770 $755 $715 $691 $638 2003 2004 2005 266G 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 �015 209d M SingleBETWEEN 2000-2013 / PRICE IN THOUSANDS,CM 2005-2016 EI4USENOLDS $638 4700 Mlkl{I hIG2 IiC OR #MORE HOUSEHOLDS Loss of Low and Middle OR LESS Income Households Between 20OG and 2013 Newton gained 4,200 households earning $200.000 or more, while ❑I the same lime losing 4,700 households earning $125,000 or less, Source: Rousing .Strategi) Reporf, pg.12 i0oswn Otobe Whv sell tliat `Happy old l owse"? ►'X. They-looked into creating an accessory-apartment — a small unit that t,pically has its ox%m kitchen and bathroom, either inside or on the same property- — '''. ; but their lot NNmsn't big enough to meet the cihr's requirements for such a dwelling. Instead, they- decided to set off two rooms and a bathroom to make a caregiver suite for tenants. t� ■'irginia and sill Robinson created a caregiver suite in their ,eulon home. Illegal Apartments GO ofNexton,Massadvisells •a - No",% /� `N a• • • � sH�N gT�N •• • O • • • - - p�}RURN' � • VGK ST GOB` A. S,z • _ •• P ` w • r Lq O z MI • :` OOh7L90NW� �. • TH 3 M wAR COM ONWE E EAL AV l f\� h '.O� , • NOR Q4' � _� • O S T °pro coN • �,y�• J O P� O -- • �N OYLSTOt, a • YLSTON O ST FF EL • Y •Sp� • m T eR /� l� ADU Zoning Prior to 2017 ,C)- ----------------------------------------------- 19910rdinance 5�0 i Tied to minimum lot & house sizes — 20% of lots eligible Special Permits required for most City Council process Public Hearing, abutter mailing Approx. 25+ hours/project of Planning Dept. Staff time Numerous amendments over time adding additional requirements. No condo-ization Owner occupied why Anus _______________ g ________________ ---------____________ Low-impact approach to expanding housing choices/opportunities. Help to keep seniors in community. As place to live As income stream & addressing isolation issues Lower cost housing option for employees / younger adults More sustainable use of existing land/buildings Planning& Development Depa The Supporters ------------------------- E) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Housing Advocates Council on Aging Green Newton & Other Environmental Groups Inspectional Services Department Historic Commission 2017 Zoning for All Accessory Apartments ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ID I Allows an Accessory Apartment in all single and two- family homes. Detached accessory apartments require a special permit. Incentives for the Preservation of Historic Carriage Houses ------------ -------------- 0 - ------------ ------------- - 1 Family & 1 Family & upto3 upto3 unrelated unrelated PP individuals individuals 2017 Zoning for All Accessory Apartments ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No parking required The principal dwelling unit must be at least 4 years old No short term rentals Design Consistency - criteria for maintaining integrity of the structure & neighborhood Reporting, recording, inspections, and tracking Rules for Internal -------------------- ---- E) ---------------- ------------- ------------ Min - 250 sq ft / Max — lesser of 1000 sq ft or 33% of principal dwelling Rules for Detached --------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------ Min — 250 sq ft / Max — lesser of 1200 sq ft or 40% of principal dwelling Must meet the setback requirements of the principal dwelling unit & be 6 feet from the principal dwelling How many ADUs permitted ? 2012 : 2 2013 : 3 2014: 3 2015 : 6 2016: 5 New Ordinance 2017 : 10 2018 : 11 2019 : 7 20,800 eligible properties