Table of Contents

Affordable Housing Programs

The city’s zoning code contains incentives for affordable housing development. §2472 lists the parking requirements for all districts, with affordable housing uses requiring a reduced number of spaces. §4180 contains the city’s inclusionary and incentive zoning bylaw, which contains both mandatory and incentive-based strategies to encourage the development and preservation of affordable housing.

Housing Supply Planning

The city's zoning code encourages increasing housing supply and affordable options for all by providing various incentives for affordable housing development. §4180 contains the city’s inclusionary and incentive zoning bylaw, which contains both mandatory and incentive-based strategies to encourage the development and preservation of affordable housing.

Solar Energy

In the town's zoning bylaw, small-scale ground-mounted solar PV installations are permitted in all zoning districts. Large-scale ground-mounted solar PV installations are permitted by right in seashore and public use districts and with a special permit from the board of appeals in all other zoning districts (§2440). Building-Mounted Solar PV Installations are accessory uses permitted in all zoning districts, though historic district commission approval might be required (§2450). No existing gable roof shall be replaced with a different roof configuration without a Special Permit from the BOA, which shall specifically address the solar access available to neighboring structures (§2639.C.2). Development Impacts Statements must address the impact of proposed project on solar access of neighboring buildings (§5331.I). When an applicant submits a plan or map they must include info on proposed utilities, including feasibility of wind and/or solar power in conjunction with storage batteries (§7080.10.d.3.D). Article 8 provides regulations for Ground Mounted Solar PV Installations, defining as-of-right siting, large-scale ground-mounted solar PV installation, solar PV installation site plan review, on-site solar PV installation, nameplate capacity, and small-scale ground-mounted solar PV installation (§8103). The ordinance requires site plan review lays out all the application and plan requirements. Standards address operations and maintenance plan, dimension and density requirements, design standards, safety and environmental standards, monitoring and maintenance, abandonment and decommissioning, and financial surety (§8106).