One way in which communities are addressing the housing crunch is by making it easier for residents to add accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to their properties. The Natick Affordable Housing Trust Fund has launched a survey seeking input from the community on this concept, which allows for an independent living area within or detached from a primary single-family residence.
The survey seeks to find out whether locals support ADUs, would be interested in adding one to their property, and what rules should apply to them.
Nearby communities such as Wellesley have approved ADUs in recent years, and the Healy Administration’s proposed “Affordable Homes Act” would allow ADUs less than 900 sq. ft. buildable by right (with some municipal restrictions allowed). Natick’s 2030+ Comprehensive Master Plan released in 2019 cited ADUs as a possible way to help seniors stay in town (ADUs are sometimes called “in-law apartments”). Natick does allow for Family Suites in its zoning bylaw, but the rules for these are very limiting.
Natick Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board Chair Ganesh Ramachandran acknowledges ADU adoption numbers across the state aren’t yet impressive. “Some cities like Salem have a more progressive ADU permitting process. For most other municipalities that allow ADUs, rules are too restrictive. Lack of financing options plus higher cost/sf compared to larger single family homes make it more difficult,” he says. He points to Newton updating its ordinance in 2017, but even so, the city is still only seeing about 10 built per year.
But things could change. If the Healey administration’s bill passes, “it would make ADUs as-of-right for single family homes and that could be a game changer.” Still, zoning guidelines will be determined by cities and towns.
“ADUs by themselves are not going to solve the housing issue, but I think they are a important puzzle piece,” Ramachandran says.
ADU options displayed in Natick survey
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