Proposed By-Law Amendments

Article 29 - Accessory Dwelling Units 

The intent of this article is to amend provisions of the Zoning By-Law to allow detached accessory dwelling units and adopt new or update existing regulations related to the creation of both detached and attached accessory dwelling units. Affected provisions include, but are not limited to updated purposes, definitions, and standards such as minimum lot size, maximum area, setback and separation requirements, occupancy terms, and any other eligibility, dimensional, and design requirements reasonably related to the creation of accessory dwelling units. The article also proposes to maintain the existing owner occupancy requirement and eliminate the requirement that family members occupy the other unit. 

Public Comment

Article 30 - Minimum Occupancy Term for Residential Uses

The intent of this article is to adopt a minimum occupancy term for residential dwelling units in order to prevent transient uses such as short-term rentals.

Article 31 - Storage of Unregistered Vehicles

The intent of this article is to replace Section 35 of Article 10 of the General Bylaws with new subsets under Section 1.8 of Section III-A Schedule of Uses of the Zoning By-Law to regulate the outdoor storage of unregistered vehicles in connection with single-family and two-family dwellings.

Article 32 - Downtown Hingham Overlay District

The intent of this article is to eliminate an obsolete reference to a previously amended subset (4.18) of Section III-A Schedule of Uses in order to correctly reference parking areas by replacing Section III-G,6.b.(ii) in its entirety.

Article 33 - Hingham Harbor Overlay District

The intent of this article is to eliminate an obsolete reference to a previously amended subset (4.18) of Section III-A Schedule of Uses in order to correctly reference parking areas by replacing the first sentence of Section III-H,5.c. in its entirety. Additionally, the amendment would explicitly allow seawalls, embankments or other coastal defenses within the Hingham Harbor Overlay District and modify otherwise effective dimensional standards in the Zoning By-Law for these structures.

Article 34 - Electric Vehicle Charging Parking Requirements

The intent of this article is to update provisions of Section V-A Off-Street Parking Requirements to create a standard for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations or infrastructure for future charging stations for all moderate or large parking lots. Additionally, the article would allow parking spaces reserved for electric vehicle charging to qualify toward the minimum parking requirement for the use of the property.