DALTON, Mass. — The Planning Board will discuss how to proceed with a proposed movable tiny homes bylaw during its meeting on Feb. 19. 

 

Accessory Dwelling Unit subcommittee member Amy Turnbull expressed her frustration with the board's delay in taking action on the proposal to authorize movable tiny homes if certain requirements are met.

 

A movable tiny home is defined as a unit under 400 square feet that meets all of someone's daily needs, including sanitation, cooking, and other facilities, and which is also mobile.

 

The board has been discussing the fate of tiny homes since last February, following a presentation by Tiny Home Industry Association President Dan Fitzpatrick. 

 

During the meeting, Fitzpatrick demonstrated the benefits of movable tiny homes for buyers and community members, including its affordability, energy efficiency, and ease of location, hookup, and maintenance. 

 

The only difference between movable tiny homes and ADUs is that movable tiny homes have wheels, he said. 

 

During the Jan. 15 meeting, Turnbull emphasized that movable tiny homes are also more affordable. 

 

The movable tiny home would need to be licensed and registered with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles and be certified that it meets requirements set by the American National Standards Institute or the National Fire Protection Association standards, Turnbull's proposal says. 

 

A common misconception that often concerns residents is the idea that movable tiny homes are conventional travel trailers or motorhomes, Fitzpatrick said, but they are not. Movable tiny homes are built to resemble a typical cottage or bungalow.

 

Turnbull initially proposed an amendment to the town's ADU bylaw to permit movable tiny homes, provided they meet the same requirements established by the bylaw that was passed in 2022.

 

The bylaw allows detached ADUs by special permit, and ADUs within an existing structure would not require a special permit. 

 

Since the vote, however, the state has updated its law to allow ADUs up to 900 square feet without local zoning approval if they meet specific requirements. This state law is effective starting in February. 

 

The town's bylaw is more restrictive than the state law so, the board needs to update its bylaw to align with the state.

 

In December, the board voted to amend its Accessory Dwelling Unit bylaw one step at a time to make it more agreeable to voters. 

 

During that meeting, board members said separating the ADU bylaw from the mobile/movable tiny house regulation would prevent confusion because it would allow each issue to be addressed clearly and distinctly.

 

"Honestly, whether we ever get back to that movable part and decide on it as a planning board, my feelings are that it probably won't go there, and I think between the two of us, we're just going to file a petition, and get enough signatures and have it on the ballot anyway," Planning Board member Jarred Mongeon said during January's meeting.

 

During the January meeting, Turnbull also argued that the board does not need to rush to update the bylaw because the change in state law makes the current bylaw unenforceable.

 

She highlighted how working to adjust the bylaw is a waste of time, considering how the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is drafting regulations to provide clarity on how towns can administer the new ADU law. 

 

"There's been a lot of talk about how really this bill by [Gov. Maura Healey] has done nothing to help ADUs because it does not address dimensional setbacks…[or] lot coverage, and there's some concern about that," she said.

 

Turnbull recommended postponing updating the town's ADU bylaw to comply with the new state law and discuss movable tiny homes. 

 

"I would like you guys to vote on it next month because I want to know how you sit with that. I want it to be officially stated you support it or you don't support it, and I'm hoping that when you do that, you say, why," Turnbull said. 

 

"So, that Jared and I can go forward and either do a petition, which I'm not in favor of, because I really want you guys to be on board with it, and I'm willing to spend another year on it because I think it's important."