'In-Law Apartment' Debate Comes To Marblehead

MARBLEHEAD, MA — As the housing crunch continues on the North Shore the debate over allowing so-called "in-law apartments" — or accessory-dwelling units — is coming to Marblehead.

Marblehead zoning laws prohibit these units, which typically are a small subset of a single-family home that allows for a separate residence. A public forum on the potential change will be held virtually on June 14 at 7 p.m.

Proponents of ADUs argue they are a way to provide more affordable housing to younger people without further development while allowing many older residents on a fixed income to stay in their homes when they do not require the space they may have needed for a family earlier in life.

ADU detractors argue they can disrupt neighborhoods of single-family homes and increase traffic and congestion.

After years of battles between the City Council and the Mayor's office, Salem last year approved ADUs after a change in state law allowed the city to do so based on a simple majority vote as opposed to the two-thirds supermajority vote previously needed.

Beverly has also begun the consideration process for ADUs.

Any change in the Marblehead bylaws would have to be approved at town meeting.

The Marblehead Planning Board said they began researching the zoning bylaw change in response to the town's aging population.

The town said the number of residents over 55 has increased by over 20 percent in the last 10 years.

"As people live longer, more housing options are needed," Board officials determined. "Increasingly, people are asking about options for parents to live with them and ways to remain in their houses.

"Potential changes could allow homeowners to downsize while remaining in their homes, give their children or parents a place to live, or provide an extra source of income by renting out an ADU."

The Planning Board has done a survey online, is holding focus groups and researching what other towns have done. This forum is to gain input to gain more public feedback and research.

The Planning Board will then decide whether to draft a zoning bylaw amendment to allow ADUs — which would include another public hearing before finalization.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)