It is important for every community in MA to have a range of tools available to address the housing crisis. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are illegal in the vast majority of MA cities and towns, but are a tool more municipalities should adopt to gently increase the number of homes and build more housing choice and opportunity in their community.
This past spring Arlington Town Meeting adopted a strong ADU by-law thanks to the advocacy of Equitable Arlington members, a local pro-housing group and new affiliate of AHMA. Arlington’s new ADU bylaw, which allows accessory homes by-right, without any additional off-street parking, and in all residential districts of town provides a model that pro-housing advocates could pursue in other Massachusetts communities.
In this webinar, “Lessons to Yes: Winning ADUs in Arlington and Prospects for State Action” participants will hear from three members of Equitable Arlington about their successful campaign for a strong ADU bylaw, including how they drafted the bylaw’s language, advocated for it at Town Meeting, and overcame past obstacles to secure this victory.
We will also be joined by Representative Andy X. Vargas of Haverhill who sponsors H.1448, a bill pending on Beacon Hill this legislative session that would, among other important zoning reform impacts, help facilitate the creation of new accessory homes in more communities across the Commonwealth.