The Burlington City Council unanimously approved zoning changes Tuesday designed to encourage construction of backyard cottages and mother-in-law apartments at single family homes.
Supporters including Mayor Miro Weinberger have touted the potential for so-called accessory dwelling units to boost the city’s housing stock and benefit both homeowners and renters.
The changes were among several housing initiatives proposed in the wake of the mayor’s 2019 Housing Summit.
Under the new rules, additional off-street parking will no longer be required for accessory dwelling units. They will also be allowed on some lots previously deemed too small, so long as stormwater treatment requirements are met.
Meanwhile, the units can be larger than allowed under previous zoning: up to 800 square feet, or 30 percent of the square footage of the principal dwelling, whichever is greater.
One thing that won’t change: City permits for the unit will only be issued if the owner of the primary home resides at the property. Once the unit is built, the owner can live in that unit as opposed to the primary home.
In a separate effort, the city’s Community Economic Development Office and nonprofit HomeShare Vermont are working on a pilot program to encourage construction of accessory apartments for seniors and low-income residents.
It will include technical assistance to homeowners, standard designs for accessory dwelling units, and matching services for prospective tenants and homeowners.
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And yet it’s against the law in Burlington to park on your own front lawn or have furniture on your own front porch! If you do you can get a ticket.. Burlington laws are so fucked up!
Down in Southern VT, at Hempfully Green, we have developed a modular system for a hemprcete cabin. For those readers that haven’t heard about hempcrete, it is the material to beat, as far as reducing carbon in the atmosphere and efficiency. Also renewable, reusable, nontoxic, curvable, pest, fire and mold free, its amazing that this natural material made with simple ingredients can handle so many of our needs. We can build in several sections up to 18 feet long, and if desired, raise the roof into gambrel position for a second floor. Accessory dwellings is the way to increase community! Way to Go Burlington!
Sucking out more green space and cutting trees for this debacle is the worst part.
So fuck the parking and fuck the youth. Got it. Thanks for the declaration of intent Miro.
The only people this benefits are renters, and people looking to buy a first home. What is the city doing to inflate my home’s value? If we don’t keep up housing prices, I might have to wait until I’m 55 to retire.
Why does the owner have to live in the house for them to have an accessory apartment why can’t they rent it out? What makes it an accessory apartment versus a small apartment in the house ?