Annual Town Meeting is scheduled on May 12th at 7:00pm at the Medway High School auditorium located at 88 Summer St, Medway, MA 02053. The Planning & Economic Development Board is proposing three zoning amendments that appear as Articles 26-28 on the Meeting Warrant. A description of each article is provided below; click HERE to view the full meeting Annual Town Meeting Warrant. 

ARTICLE A – Accessory Dwelling Units – This article will amend the zoning bylaw to comply with recent amendments to G.L. c. 40A, §3, which requires that Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) of up to 900 square feet be allowed by right in all single-family zoning districts, and prohibits any requirements that ADU’s be occupied by the owner or by family members.  This article will bring our zoning bylaw into compliance by repealing Section 8.2, Accessory Family Dwelling Units (AFDU), and replacing it with a new Section 8.2, Accessory Dwelling Units; and by inserting a definition of Accessory Dwelling Unit; and by amending Table 1, Schedule of Uses, to delete AFDU and insert ADU; and to make other related changes. 

ARTICLE B – Flood Plain Bylaw – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently updated its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM).  We need to amend our zoning bylaw to remain in compliance with FEMA and state requirements, so that our residents will be eligible for flood insurance.  We have been working with the state Division of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Flood Hazard Management Program, which has reviewed these proposed amendments and approved them as compliant with the state and federal requirements.  This article proposes various amendments to Section 5.6.1 of the zoning bylaw, including: insert date of updated FIRM; amend Section 5.6.1.G.4 to insert correct flood zone references; eliminate special permit requirements; and make other minor changes. 

ARTICLE C – Housekeeping Amendments – Three changes are proposed:

1. To amend Section 3.2.B of the zoning bylaw to appoint the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to hear appeals under G.L. c. 41, §81Y and 81Z, which are part of the Subdivision Control Law. Section 81Y provides that building permits will not be issued unless the lot is not in a subdivision, or if it is, the way furnishing access to the lot is shown on a recorded plan and any condition endorsed on the plan limiting the right to erect or maintain buildings on the lot has been satisfied. The Town is required by Section 81X to have an appeal board to hear appeals from any denial of a building permit made under Section 81Y, and the statute specifically allows the existing ZBA to perform this function.

2. Amend Section 5.5.B to reflect legislative changes to G.L. c. 40A, §6. This statute was amended last year by chapter 238 of the Acts of 2024, which states in part that a zoning bylaw shall provide for a three-year time period to commence construction or use of special permits and site plan approvals. The proposed amendment brings our zoning bylaw into compliance with the new state law.

3. Corrects a scrivener’s error.