Agenda - Planning Commission - 10/06/2016

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August 25 2016 1 Volume 10 1 Issue 16 Zoning Bulletin Source: Bethesda Magazine; www.bethesdamagazine.com MASSACHUSETTS In June,the Massachusetts Senate"voted to approve what would be the first major reform of zoning in Massachusetts since the 1970s." Among other things, S. 2311, a bill entitled "An Act to Promote Housing and Sustainable Development in the Com- monwealth," would require "communities to allow for higher density housing, cluster development and permitting accessory units within single family homes." It would also "revise subdivi- sion laws and attempt to make site plan review more consistent among municipalities." The bill now awaits consideration by the House of Representatives. If passed there, it would go to the Governor to sign it into law. Source: Lexology; www.lexolog y� com TENNESEE As of July 1, 2016, a new Tennessee law—Senate Bill 2375 requires local governments amend their zoning ordinances to al- low families to "permit the placement of very specific, and temporary, medical dwellings" (often called "Granny Pods") on residential properties zoned for single families. Although,.under the law,a municipality cannot deny a permit that meets the remain- ing zoning regulations for accessory structures, reportedly restric- tive covenants in certain neighborhoods could still present an ob- stacle for the placement of such structures. Source: The Tullahoma News; www.tullahonianews.com VIRGINIA Effective July 1,Virginia's new proffer law"bars localities from denying rezoning requests based on a residential developer's refusal to submit to `unreasonable' proffers." It also provides that "[i]f a developer offers or a county accepts proffers, they have to address an impact that is specifically caused by the proposed development;" the proffer cannot be used simply as an alternative form of taxation. Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch; www.richmond.com 12 ©2016 Thomson Reuters