Two-Family Housing Amendments Targeted for Spring Town Meeting

July 30, 2022

The Planning Board voted Tuesday, July 26, to include zoning bylaw amendments expediting expansion of the town’s inventory of two-family dwellings on the 2023 Annual Town Meeting warrant.

Board Chair Steven Hagan advised against proposing “sweeping” changes at the fall town meeting and recommended waiting until the annual town meeting in the spring to present zoning bylaw amendments. The board agreed.

Several members indicated concern with the potential impact of too much change and the way it would be received.

Planning Director Tony Fields will draft the changes, with emphasis on addressing conforming and non-conforming lots, the modification restriction date, and floor-area ratio requirements.

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According to the current bylaw, two-family dwellings are limited to residential districts and restricted to conversion of a pre-1945 single-family dwelling (by special permit), or building on a lot that was in existence in 1992 with one-and-a-half times the minimum lot area.

According to a 2019 housing study, there are only five parcels in Bedford that are vacant and developable, meet or exceed the 1.5 times minimum lot size, have sufficient frontage, and are zoned residential. The study recommends limiting the 1.5 times minimum lot size and either changing or removing the modification date restriction.

Approximately half of the lots in Bedford are designated non-conforming, which means they are smaller than the minimum required area in their respective residential zones.

Chris Gittens provided data from the 2020 census indicating that Bedford is continuing to show modest population growth. He suggested that the amendments take into account the new schools that will need to be constructed to accommodate an increasing population.

He additionally noted that significant bylaw changes may be needed in order to address the substantial number of non-conforming lots in town.

Amy Lloyd cautioned that sweeping changes to the bylaw may raise concerns among residents. She also suggested that using a drastically different approach to conforming and non-conforming lots could divide residents.

Todd Crowley advised that more than just the frontage or area will need to be changed in order to create conforming lots. He also noted that the bylaw will need to take into account the high volume of non-conforming lots currently in town.

Jacinda Barbehenn shared Crowley’s opinions and also suggested that an amended bylaw may cause undue hardship for residents who are living on non-conforming lots. Lloyd agreed and further recommended adding a 600-square-foot limit for modifications to non-conforming lots as well as offering exceptions for pre-1945 residences.

The board additionally passed a motion to continue meeting via Zoom through September. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m.

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