Housing Partnership pushes back on perpetual deed restrictions in Wayland ADU bylaw

WAYLAND -- January 8, 2025, Wayland Housing Partnership votes unanimously to strip "in perpetuity" from town's draft ADU bylaw. The 7-0 vote at the Jan. 8 meeting sends the Planning Board a marked-up draft ahead of its Jan. 15 deadline to advance the article to Town Meeting, objecting that perpetual deed restrictions on affordable accessory dwelling units would act as "an encumbrance" on homeowners. Member Kathleen Boundy, who led the line-by-line review, said the requirement is "an unnecessary limitation" and "a deterrence actually to people." Attorney and member James Grumbach warned the town should mirror state statutory language rather than invent terms that may not "fly." The partnership also approved comments to the state's Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities on draft ADU regulations due Jan. 10, urging the state to bar familial-relationship requirements and to replace the standard of "complete nullification" with regulations that "substantially diminish or interfere" with ADU development. Chair Mary M. Antes said the Housing Trust will consider hiring a consultant Monday.