Housing board sets sights on ADUs

AMENIA — Considering attainable goals for 2025, the Housing Board discussed promotion of accessory dwelling units at its regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20, part of the larger goal of increasing local housing options.

Accessory dwelling units are habitable buildings on residential property other than the primary building.

Following discussion, the board agreed that seeing the creation of five ADUs in 2025 would be an attainable goal.

Noting that the town is pursuing the state-sponsored Pro-housing Community Program that opens opportunity for funding for the creation of ADUs, Housing Board chairman Charlie Miller led the discussion.

A second state program, Plus-One ADU, was initiated in 2022 when the state’s capital budget allocated $85 million to create and upgrade accessory dwelling units throughout the state. The aim of the program is to assist low to middle income homeowners who want to create an ADU on their property, either an attached unit or one that is detached.

ADUs can be in the form of basement apartments, over-garage apartments, or stand-alone small dwellings. Funding up to $125,000 can support the creation of an ADU on a single-family property.

Both programs are intended to increase the numbers of housing opportunities in communities where the supply of affordable housing is low.

Housing board member Josh Frankel suggested that a flow chart be developed to explain the process to be followed by a homeowner in planning for an ADU. For example, the ADU would need to conform to septic standards that are based on the current number of bedrooms in a home.