Town Meeting approved Article 27, a technical amendment to the zoning bylaws regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The changes were necessitated by state regulations and requests from the Attorney General’s office to ensure local bylaws do not conflict with the MBTA Communities Act and other state housing mandates.

Town Planner Karen Horn explained that the update removes specific references to single-family dwellings and replaces them with the term principal dwelling. These adjustments also address parking requirements near transit and standardizes setbacks. This will put us in compliance with state law, Horn told the assembly.

The Advisory Board supported the measure as a necessary legal adjustment. The vote follows a pattern of reluctant compliance in Marshfield, where town officials have previously approved mandated zoning changes while maintaining a reservation of rights for potential future legal challenges.

Motion: To amend the Marshfield Code Division 3 zoning bylaws as set forth in Article 27.

Vote: Passed