The Select Board has called a Special Town Meeting for Monday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. and while the agenda is not yet finalized, it is expected to include items regarding accessory dwelling units and a seasonal community designation for the town.

In August 2024, Massachusetts passed the Affordable Homes Act. As part of that law, legislators amended zoning laws statewide and allowed the construction of residences up to 900 square feet on property in single family zoning districts, called accessory dwelling units, commonly referred to as ADUs.

The affordable homes act also created a classification for certain towns called a seasonal community designation. If designated, towns could make changes to zoning regulations and other laws to ease the local burden of a busy tourist season.

Town Administrator Derek Sullivan explained the town should consider a moratorium, the action of not adopting legislature for a certain period of time, on the accessory dwelling unit piece of the Affordable Homes Act.

Sullivan explained the law goes into effect Feb. 2 and the Special Town Meeting "is the last bite of the apple to do any sort of local regulation."

Sullivan added one of his biggest concerns with the legislature is that it allows for seasonal rentals in both an accessory dwelling unit and the main living space on a property and neither would have to be occupied year round.

"The way the accessory dwelling unit law works, neither unit needs to be occupied by the owner and they can both be short term rentals," said Sullivan. "You can have people from out of town buying up housing properties, putting accessory dwelling units on them and renting them for the busy season."

He said one of his main concerns is "this could flood our town and drive up the cost of living," said Sullivan. "I'm afraid that the residents here now won't be able to have housing or their kids won't have housing."

Sulivan continued by saying he recommends the town consider a moratorium because he has not received any guidance from the state on how to regulate the potential high increase in seasonal rentals.

"I don't mind people renting their house but we shouldn't be able to bend the by-laws to make more seasonal rentals that are not helping our housing crunch," said Sullivan.

The Special Town Meeting was called at the Dec. 3 Select Board meeting and the agenda officially opens Dec. 6 and closes Dec. 16.