More year-round housing in Dennis? Here's what on tap for the Dennis town meeting on Oct. 25
DENNIS — An accessory dwelling unit bylaw, a full-time position of wastewater superintendent, a new ambulance and several projects requesting funding from the Community Preservation Committee are a few of the issues to be before Dennis voters at an Oct. 25 special town meeting.
One of the big ticket items on the 33-article warrant is whether the proposed accessory dwelling unit — or ADU — bylaw found under Article 33 will get the green light from voters.
ADUs are self-contained, apartment-style dwellings built on the same lot as a primary residence.
The town's Zoning Bylaw Study Committee has been working for 2 1/2 years on the bylaw voters are scheduled to consider, meeting once a month to comb through ADU regulations from other Cape towns, talk with housing and construction experts and gathering public comments.
Carlyn Carey, a member of the committee, is optimistic about the bylaw's chances.
"We’ve had some committee members attend community meetings and they've heard interesting questions, but no indication folks feel the bylaw is a bad idea," Carey said. "We hope this will be a step to at least provide some more rental housing for the people who want to live in the town of Dennis."
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In the proposed 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 at least 15,000 square feet, and ADUs can only have two bedrooms.
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, in the proposed bylaw.
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 cap on ADUs would be phased out without any further town meeting action on Dec. 31, 2027.
The proposed ADU bylaw is important, said Select Board member and board clerk Paul McCormick.
"It's a very good idea for the town of Dennis," McCormick said. "It's about time."
New wastewater superintendent
Article 22, if passed, would create a permanent, full-time wastewater superintendent to collaborate with, oversee and advise the team working on the Dennis wastewater project.
Diane Chamberlain, chair and Board of Health representative to the town Wastewater Implementation Committee, applauded the Select Board for giving the article the green light.
"The town is investing a lot of money to implement its wastewater program," Chamberlain said. "The wastewater superintendent will monitor the consultants and engineers working on the project, and I think this is a very positive step. I hope the townspeople support it."
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The new position will take a lot of the workload concerning the project off the plates of other town employees, she added, and having someone qualified in the position will be an asset to the project.
At the May town meeting, voters gave the go-ahead for the town to begin designing the first phase of a municipal sewer system and treatment plant at 120 Theophilus F. Smith Road, with a $7.7 million price tag.
Dennis is one of several Cape towns to embark on wastewater infrastructure improvement projects, especially considering new Department of Environmental Protection regulations concerning septic systems are set to go into effect in a few months.
"We’re in the wastewater business now, it’s something we have to do, and this (superintendent) will help us," McCormick said. "The fact that we would have someone who’s working in the town’s best interest in regards to wastewater is the way to go."
Community Preservation Committee funds park upgrades, housing initiatives
The Community Preservation Committee is seeking approval at town meeting to provide funding for several projects.
"We’re doing a lot of great work with the CPC this year," Chris Lambton, Select Board chair and liaison to the committee, said. "I'm proud of what we've done."
Articles 26-29 are all grants from the Community Preservation Committee focusing on upgrading and beautification projects across Dennis:
Article 26 requests $14,000 from the Community Preservation Open Space & Recreation Reserves to purchase and install conservation area kiosks, signage and fencing.
Article 27 requests $104,800 and $200,000 from the Community Preservation Open Space & Recreation Reserves and the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund Balance respectively for restoration at Johnny Kelley Park in South Dennis.
Article 28 asks voters to approve a transfer of $308,800 from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund Balance for playground updates at Johnny Kelley Park and historic West Dennis Graded School.
Article 29 requests a 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.
“We’re doing a lot of great work with the CPC this year, but one of my favorites is the Johnny Kelley Park. It’s the central park of Dennis and we’re really investing it,” Lambton said.
The committee wants to make the park Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, from the playgrounds to the walkways, he said, and overall enhance the appearance of the park.
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"When you pull in you’re going to know you’re at a place that’s really great," Lambton said. "So many people use it, there’s stuff going on there all year long. I’m glad we’re doing this.”
Articles 30-32 are fund requests from the Community Preservation Committee as well, of grants for housing and rental assistance initiatives:
Article 30 requests $341,250 from the Community Preservation Community Housing Reserves as a grant to Habitat for Humanity for the Setucket Road Community Housing Project.
Article 31 requests $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.
Article 32 requests $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 whose goal is to build four affordable houses on the 2.79 acre site at 401 Setucket Road, currently owned by Friends of Dennis' Senior Citizens.
If Article 30 is approved, the Community Preservation Committee grant would cover the purchase of the land.
Lambton said the committee supported phase I of FORWARD on the Rock, which built eight affordable housing units for people with autism and their relatives off of Hokum Rock Road.
He said he is eager to continue supporting the project as it goes towards phase II, which will build eight more affordable units at the site.
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"It’s beautifully done," Lambton said of the site. "The town gave them (FORWARD) the land on a 99-year lease, CPC gave a great funding amount to phase I, the Dennis Municipal Affordable Housing Trust has contributed funds already, and now CPC is going to help even more. It really is a great thing.”
Lambton also said he is excited about Article 32, which, if passed, will fund rental assistance through the Dennis Housing Authority for 27 families over 3 years.
“Right now housing on the Cape is tough, making ends meet is tough, and this is a way for Dennis residents through CPC to help other Dennis residents stay in their homes," he said. "I hope it’s not just a unanimous vote, but glowingly unanimous at town meeting.”
New ambulance, firetruck refurbishment
Articles 14 and 16 would be for the Dennis Fire Department, with Article 16 asking town meeting to approve transferring or raising $600,000 for a new ambulance.
Fire Chief Robert Brown said current estimates put the waiting time for a new ambulance at two years due to supply chain issues.
There are currently two ambulances at the department that — while are not in any immediate danger of breaking down — are coming up on the time they need to be replaced, he said.
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"We're trying to be proactive, knowing we won’t be able to get one for a while, we wanted to get an order in the pipeline so we don’t have any interruptions in our service," Brown said.
He said the department plans to put an article in the spring town meeting warrant for funds for the second ambulance.
With unanimous support from both the Select Board and Finance Committee, Brown is optimistic it will pass on Oct. 25.
"The people of the town have always been very supportive of us and they know the importance of the vehicle. It’s a lifesaving machine," he said.
Article 14 requests a transfer of $23,375 for increased costs in refurbishing one of the department's firetrucks.
At the last town meeting, the department got approval of approximately $140,000 to refurbish one of their firetrucks that had started to show signs of age, Brown said, but due to record-high inflation since then the cost had gone up a bit.
The refurbishment will extend the truck's life by 15 to 20 years he added, while a new firetruck would cost about $800,000.
"It’s well worth the money, it’s a good investment," he said.
If you go
What: Dennis Special Town Meeting
Where: Nathaniel Wixon Innovation School, 901 Route 134, South Dennis
When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 25
For more information, visit https://www.town.dennis.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/town-meeting-information.
Contact Sarah Carlon at scarlon@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @sarcarlon.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: ADU housing, wastewater job, park upgrades at town meeting
