Pittsfield Councilors Hope ADUs Alleviate Housing Shortage

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
09:13AM / Sunday, February 16, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With a new accessory dwelling unit ordinance and the state allowing them by-right, Pittsfield officials hope for alleviation from the housing crisis.

Last week, the City Council established an ordinance for the creation of ADUs that allows one by right on any property with a one- or two-family residential home. This includes changes to Sections 23-2 and 23-9 of the City Code.

"This is going to be good for us," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said.

Lampiasi said that anyone recently searching for a home in the city knows "It's very difficult." Thirty years down the road, she envisions these units sparking interest for prospective homebuyers whether they use the ADU for a loved one, visitors, or rent it out.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren pointed out that he petitioned for an ADU ordinance in his first term before the state took it up.

"Almost everywhere in Massachusetts, we're short of living space," he said. "And these are things that these are things that will definitely help, and they actually would not overstrain our system, because they're smaller units."

The by-right allowance of ADUs also aims to provide additional options for seniors.

"We have folks who want to age in place, or there's really no place to downsize," Councilor at Large Alisa Costa said.

"This is a great option for our communities in that respect and just to get — we still have other challenges around housing but this is one of the many pieces that we're going to need to solve the cost issues that we have in the development of housing."

Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said this allows multigeneral families to live on one property, sharing that he thinks about such options for his family even though "They're not old yet."

As of Sunday, Feb. 2, ADUs less than 900 square feet can be built by-right in single-family zoning districts statewide, and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities estimates that 8,000 to 10,000 ADUs can be constructed over the next five years thanks to this simplification of the ADU permitting process.

This is a part of the Healey-Driscoll administration's Affordable Homes Act, signed into law in August 2024. Garages, attics, and basements can be converted into ADUs or an ADU can be a newly constructed detached cottage or addition onto the primary home with a separate entrance.

"Amidst the ongoing ADU Zoning Amendment process, the State released final regulations detailing what regulations were deemed "unreasonable" or "prohibited" for municipalities to impose on Accessory Dwelling Units in their local Zoning Ordinance," the Department of Community Development wrote to the council.

"Several items in the final regulations have now made aspects of the proposed ADU Zoning Amendment to not be in compliance with state standards."

Changes to the code:

Amend Section 23-9 Section 9.l0l(H)(l) to read "One (1) ADU is permitted by-right subject to the dimensional requirements of this Section, in any property containing a one or two family residential use. Each additional ADU will require a Special Permit under Section 9.101 (H).
Replace the word "structure" with "dwelling" in Article 23-2 Section 2.2 and in Article 23-9 Section 9.101(H)(3) regarding the size requirements for ADUS.
Adopt the definition for Gross Floor Area that is included in State Regulations and add it to Subsection H of Article 23-9 Section 9.101. This definition will now be contained under Subsection H in a newly added Definitions (1) section. The requirements for ADUs will now be contained in a newly added "Requirements" section.
Amend the current Dimensional Standards in Article 23-9 Section 9.l Ol(H)(2) to read "Dimensional Requirements for ADUs shall follow the most permissive dimensional requirements that apply to either the principal dwelling, a Single- Family Residential Dwelling, or Accessory Uses in general.

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Fenton: Governor's Council Must Deliver for the Berkshires

Community submissionGuest Column
10:22AM / Friday, August 28, 2026

I am a Springfield lawyer running for Governor's Council and I am asking for Berkshire County residents to support me over an incumbent from North Adams.

Here's why: Last year I learned about staffing issues in our regional courts that I could not ignore. In 2025, it was reported that four of Western Massachusetts' 11 Superior Court judgeships were vacant, all at the same time. A few weeks later, that grew to five vacancies. This meant there were only six Superior Court judges serving all of Western Mass at a time when Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden counties had more than 100 pending homicide cases.

Those numbers were alarming to me, so I started to engage with leaders in the community who work most closely with the court system and I came to learn that these vacancies were only the tip of the iceberg here in Berkshire County.

I learned that no Superior Court or District Court judge had been appointed from the Berkshires since the current incumbent took office. As a result, there is not a single Superior Court judge who lives in the Berkshires today, and several of the District Court judges drive in from other counties to support Berkshire courts in Pittsfield, Great Barrington, and North Adams. Court staff also informed me about severe staffing shortages at the Berkshire Clerk of Courts office resulting in other counties needing to loan staff to the Berkshires just so hardworking employees can take a brief and planned summer vacation. This is not normal. These issues are a reflection of genuine problems with the Berkshire County court system and show a lack of proactive attention from our Governor's Councilor.

Instead of focusing on regional equity, I watched as the current incumbent celebrated that she has voted against the governor's nominees more than any other councilor, without much explanation as to why. Most recently, she voted against two extremely qualified former prosecutors for the Parole Board. This was despite an in-person plea from the governor and a letter of support from all the three of the district attorney's from Western Mass. Those votes do not show independence or standing up for principles, they demonstrate naivete, and an unwillingness to work with the key stakeholders.

I had seen and heard enough. I decided to jump in the race and challenge the incumbent to address these problems head-on.

I am a partner of a regional law firm. I understand our courts and the importance of having qualified, fair and hardworking judges. And I know how important it is to have judges from the Berkshires serving the Berkshires. To achieve that, you need strong relationships with the legal community and local stakeholders. You need to know how to use the power of the Governor's Council to fight forcefully for our region. And you need to be laser focused on identifying vacancies before they occur so that they can be filled quickly with local candidates.

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