Planning Board unanimously amends zoning bylaw definition

Planning Board · Meeting of August 3, 2026

DENNIS — Planning Board unanimously amends zoning definition, addresses housing shortage. The Dennis Planning Board unanimously amended the zoning bylaw's definition of "year-round" occupancy by distinguishing Year-Round Ownership Units from Year-Round Rental Units in an 8-0-0 vote, with Town Planner Paul Foley noting the change improves clarity and enforceability. In a separate presentation, Tony Duong of Barrett Planning Group updated the board that Dennis currently holds only 6 percent of state-mandated Subsidized Housing Inventory units; to reach the 10 percent threshold for Chapter 40B safe harbor, the town must add 317 units to the SHI.

Chair Jeff Eldredge and Board Members Sally Bickford and Rick Hamlin expressed concerns about the feasibility of reaching the affordable housing goal. The board also unanimously endorsed an ANR plan for Tobey Farm creating four new house lots with one reserved as a non-building lot for the Dennis Conservation Land Trust.

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of August 3, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.