ADU bylaw, parks and fire department spending: Here's what happened at Dennis town meeting

Sarah Carlon, Cape Cod Times
·6 min read

DENNIS — Dennis town meeting voters greenlighted the purchase of a new ambulance, the creation of a wastewater superintendent position and an alternative dwelling unit (ADU) bylaw on Tuesday. Here's a rundown of what happened

Dennis OKs ADU bylaw, questions remain

The big-ticket item at the meeting, which was held at the Nathaniel Wixon Innovation School, was Article 33, a proposed ADU bylaw, which voters approved but only after debate and a surprise amendment was introduced.

ADUs are self-contained, apartment-style dwellings built on the same lot as a primary residence.

Until Tuesday evening, Dennis was one of the few towns on Cape Cod without a specific ADU bylaw.

The town's Zoning Bylaw Study Committee convened 2½ years ago and met once a month to comb through ADU regulations from other Cape towns, talk with housing and construction experts and gather public comments to create the proposed ADU regulations for Dennis.

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Under the bylaw, the maximum size of an ADU is 800 square feet or 40% of the total living area of the main residence. ADUs can only be built on lots that are a minimum of 15,000 square feet, and the number of bedrooms is capped at two.

The owner of the main residence must live either in the residence or the ADU year-round, and ADU leases must last a minimum of 12 months. Owners cannot sell the ADU separately from the main residence, and the number of ADU permits allowed by Dennis per year will be capped at nine so the town can study the bylaw's effects.

The committee included that the nine-ADU permits cap will phase out without any town meeting action by Dec. 31, 2027.

"For several years we've all been hearing about the need for housing on Cape Cod, and Dennis is no exception," Carlyn Carey, a member of the committee said at Tuesday's town meeting. "Accessory dwelling units were identified by leaders in our town as one way to find new housing opportunities while also keeping congruent with our town's housing landscape."

Although the bylaw was unanimously endorsed by the select board, finance committee, planning board and board of health, questions and concerns remained among town meeting voters.

Resident and member of the Old Kings Highway Committee Phil Catchings was concerned about the nine-permit cap expiring without town meeting action. He put forth an amendment to the moderator that would strike that language from the bylaw.

Catchings' amendment was voted down, and the bylaw was passed in a 194 to 5 vote.

Dennis wastewater superintendent approved

Article 22 created a new, full-time position of wastewater superintendent, who would oversee and advise on all stages of the town's comprehensive wastewater overhaul project.

The design phase of the project, which includes municipal sewering and a wastewater treatment center, was approved at May's town meeting.

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"The amount of wastewater projects requires the time and commitment of a designated full-time employee," John Terrio, select board chair, said on Tuesday. "This position would oversee the planning, design and future construction of the wastewater implementation."

The cost of the position, which begins Dec. 31, 2022, is $65,000 to $90,000 for the salary and $25,000 for benefits.

The article was passed unanimously.

CPC grants for housing, public space upgrades pass unanimously

Articles 26-29, which concerned several upcomingCommunity Preservation Committee recommendations for upgrades and beautification projects at town conservation areas, Johnny Kelley Park, the West Dennis Graded Historical School and the Jericho Historical Center Barn were all passed unanimously. Here are the details:

  • $14,000 from the Community Preservation Open Space & Recreation Reserves to purchase and install conservation area kiosks, signage and fencing.

  • $104,800 and $200,000 from the Community Preservation Open Space & Recreation Reserves and the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund Balance respectively for the restoration of Johnny Kelley Park in South Dennis.

  • The transfer of $308,800 from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund Balance for playground updates at Johnny Kelley Park and historic West Dennis Graded School.

  • The transfer of $149,106 from the Community Preservation Historic Preservation Reserves to be given as a grant to the Jericho Historical Center Committee for exterior renovations to the Jericho Historical Center barn.

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Articles 30-32 requested transfers for two upcoming housing projects and one rental assistance program were approved:

  • $341,250 from the Community Preservation Community Housing Reserves as a grant to Habitat for Humanity for the Setucket Road Community Housing Project.

  • $235,000 and $450,000 from the Community Preservation Community Housing Reserves and the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund Balance as a grant to FORWARD (Friends or Relatives with Autism Related Disabilities) for phase II of the FORWARD at the Rock project.

  • $388,000 from the Community Preservation Community Undesignated Fund Balance as a grant to the Dennis Housing Authority for the Dennis Rental Assistance Program.

The Setucket Road Housing Project is a Habitat for Humanity initiative that has a goal to build four affordable houses on 2.79 acres at 401 Setucket Road, which is owned by Friends of Dennis' Senior Citizens.

The article, which was passed unanimously, covers the purchase of the land.

FORWARD on the Rock built eight affordable housing units for people with autism off of Hokum Rock Road.

With the approval of voters, it can now go forward with phase II of the development, which will build eight more affordable housing units for disabled people.

Select Board member Chris Lambton said at Tuesday's town meeting that the grant for the Dennis Rental Assistance Program is a chance for Dennis residents to directly help other Dennis residents. The approval of the article has provided funding for rental assistance for 27 Dennis families lasting three years.

"This is a great way for the people of Dennis to actually help people in Dennis remain in their homes," Lambton said. "Everyone knows how hard it is during the winter months to make money, and this is a great way to help those individuals and families."

New ambulance, firetruck refurbishment gets green light

Voters unanimously approved spending $600,000 for the purchase of a new ambulance.

The fire department has two ambulances that, while not in any immediate danger, are almost ready to be taken out of service, Fire Chief Robert Brown told the Times.

The amount of time from ordering to delivery has been quoted as two years, so the department wants to get the ball rolling on the ambulance orders as soon as possible so as not to interrupt service, he said.

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Funding for a second ambulance will be put forward at the spring town meeting.

Voters unanimously approved a budget transfer of $23,375 to cover increased costs of finishing the refurbishment of one of the department's firetrucks.

This refurbishment has a price tag of approximately $160,000 and is expected to extend the vehicle's life by 15 to 20 years, Brown told the Times, a far cry from the $800,000 estimated cost of a new ambulance.

Contact Sarah Carlon at scarlon@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @sarcarlon

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Here's what happened at Dennis special Town Meeting on Oct. 25, 2022