Summary
Two neighboring petitions tested how far the ZBA will stretch ADU rules — one for a setback encroachment, one for nearly doubling allowed floor space. The outcomes show a board willing to grant relief for family housing, but divided on where precedent ends.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 4
- Last 30 days
- 2
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 6, 2026.
Impact analysis
ADUs typically add value to the homes and don't cost the town anything directly.
Homeowners on Samoset Drive gain space for family members; the state's push for more housing options gets a local boost.
Direct abutters raised concerns about drainage, runoff and privacy, though conditions addressed most of them.
Mentions & discussions (4)
Zoning Board of Adjustment (Regular) - Nov 5, 2026
Three property owners are asking the Zoning Board to waive dimensional zoning rules — two for garage setbacks and one to build a house on a lot far smaller than the Recreational District allows. The Shore Drive case is the most significant because approving a year-round home on a 5,000 sq. ft. lot could set a precedent for other small lots around Arlington Pond.
Zoning Board of Adjustment (Regular) - Oct 6, 2026
A 9.9-acre property in the Rural District can now be split into two house lots even though the new lot lacks the required 150 feet of road frontage, using a driveway easement to Ballard Lane instead. One new home will be built in a residential neighborhood.
Zoning Board of Adjustment (Regular) - Mar 3, 2026
A 22-unit townhouse project was already cleared to be built 35 feet tall; the question was whether it could have three full stories instead of 2.5. Abutters worried about privacy, parking, and massing — and the hearing surfaced unresolved concerns about undelivered certified notices from the 2024 approval. The Board denied the variance for lack of hardship.
Zoning Board of Adjustment (Regular) - Jan 6, 2026
Two neighboring petitions tested how far the ZBA will stretch ADU rules — one for a setback encroachment, one for nearly doubling allowed floor space. The outcomes show a board willing to grant relief for family housing, but divided on where precedent ends.
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