About the Project

The City of Beverly is working to encourage a greater diversity of housing options, goals committed to in the Beverly Community Housing Plan (2016) and the Beverly Master Plan (2020). As part of this larger effort, the City created a public process to update its zoning ordinance (development regulations) for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), also known as accessory apartments, in-law units, or granny flats.  

Currently, Beverly’s zoning ordinance allows certain kinds of ADUs for family members or caretakers of residents in the primary home. The one-year project (2021-22) to update the ADU Ordinance was supported by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) - Beverly's regional planning agency. Together with the steering committee at right, we examined and then recommended updates to the ADU zoning to better serve the community’s housing needs. Potential updates include removing the restrictions on who can live in an ADU to allow non-family members. 

The process included robust community engagement, including public forums and focus groups, as well as research on best practices for ADUs and careful consideration of the local context in Beverly. In addition, the project included the development of a data tool to help the understand the potential impacts of different approaches to regulating ADUs. The tool will help ensure a data-driven approach to the zoning update. 

Based on the community engagement, research, and findings from the on-line tool, the City drafted amendments to the existing ADU zoning ordinance and will present the draft amendments for the City Council’s review and approval.