Accessory-Dwelling Unit Expansion Sought In Swampscott

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott is the latest North Shore community to look at expanding accessory-dwelling units as a way to potentially ease its affordable housing crunch.

The town joins Marblehead and Beverly in exploring zoning bylaw changes that would allow the creation of more so-called "in-law apartments" after Salem authorized them starting last year.

The town's Office of Community and Economic Development will hold a public forum on the zoning proposal on Jan. 30 at the Swampscott Senior Center. There will be three field experts there who will share their experiences in case study knowledge, state legislation and policy, and construction feasibility.

"This is a great opportunity to come and learn about accessory-dwelling units, ask questions and share ideas, and help us envision what they might look like here in Swampscott," the office said.

ADUs are currently allowed in Swampscott through a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, but the proposed change would allow them "by right" — meaning that only a building permit would be necessary to create the separate-entrance apartment.

Also proposed is a bylaw that would allow detached ADUs on a homeowner's property through a special permit from the Zoning Board.

Proponents of ADUs say that they help address critical affordable housing needs by putting more units on the market that are generally lower-rent options while providing older property owners the chance to stay in their homes by renting out parts of houses or detached structures on the primary homeowner's property.

Opponents of ADUs generally cite added traffic and congestion, as well as the introduction of rental properties potentially changing the character of neighborhoods made up primarily of single-family homes.

(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.)