The Natick Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board this past week shared an update on community feedback gathered about allowing accessory dwelling units in town to help address the housing shortage. ADUs are independent living spaces carved out within a home, attached to a home, or detached on the same property.
The Trust Fund Board’s Ganesh Ramachandran briefed the Select Board at its June 12 meeting on ADUs, which he described as being “one of the most versatile housing typologies,” possibly suitable for those aging in place, an artist’s studio, a student, or others (see slides from presentation below).
Taking a look at ADUs now makes sense for Natick given legislation moving through the state that would allow homeowners to build such units by right, with municipalities maintaining bylaws but not requiring special permits. Nearby communities such as Newton and Wellesley allow ADUs, though a relatively small number have been added, perhaps in part due to the nature of local rules in place as well as the cost of building them. Though Ramachandran said more flexible rules in other parts of the country, namely California, have spurred ADU development.
Still, other barriers to building ADUs, including a lack of financing options and high per square foot costs, are a challenge.
A survey issued in the spring (still open…) by the Natick Affordable Housing Trust Fund has garnered about 260 responses, and Ramachandran said they have been “overwhelmingly positive.”
Almost all respondents said they live in town, with about half of them owning property here. The survey showed a good spread of age ranges and people living in different precincts.
More than four out of five filling out the survey said they support ADUs, though some in only certain neighborhoods. People like the idea of allowing intergenerational living, providing a passive income stream, and more.
Among the concerns cited by respondents was short-term rentals, though most would not be fazed by units being available to people who are not family members of homeowners. Survey takers favored allowing smaller lots, like those near transit stops in town, to include ADUs.
Natick already allows for Family Suites in its zoning bylaw, but the rules for these are limiting and many in town are not aware they exist. About 70% of those taking the ADU survey were not familiar with this bylaw, designed to support accommodations for other family members.
One approach to progress being weighed is making “a baby step” by amending the Family Suites bylaw to help pave the way to ADUs in town, Ramachandran said. The Select Board’s Bruce Evans agreed that might be the smoothest way to go forward on this.
Natick Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board presentation[gview file=”https://www.natickreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ADUs_Slides.pdf”]
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