The Planning Board discussed accessory apartments at its December meeting, with an eye toward proposing some changes to section 513 of the zoning ordinance governing year-round rental apartments. Section 513 was originally created to address the lack of year-round rentals for the island’s workforce. Unlike accessory residential structures, 513 accessory apartments are allowed to have a kitchen, but they must be rented to a year- round island resident. 513s cannot be used for weekly summer rentals, and the owner musthave the current lease on file with the town, as well as agree to an inspection.The Housing Board had requested a review by the Planning Board to address some issues with the language of the ordinance. Specifically, the Housing Board was concerned that the ordinance called for the Housing Board to play a role in regulating 513 accessory apartments, if the apartments were also listed as “affordable housing.” The Housing Board asked the Planning Board to remove it from this regulatory role.
Member Chris Willi asked for the definition of affordable housing, and confessed that he had assumed all 513s were affordable. Town Planner Allison Ring explained that per state guidelines, an affordable housing unit is one that receives
