[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6254877,"mediaKeyId","3168707-5cc82af2ac6102568fa28638400e73a4","parentId",3168707,"title","Hampden planning board moves ADU amendments to town meeting, clarifies gross floor area and permitting limits","audioSeconds",301,"startMs",2135000,"endMs",2436000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3168707-5cc82af2ac6102568fa28638400e73a4&start=2135&end=2436","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3168707-5cc82af2ac6102568fa28638400e73a4/thumbnail_2135000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6254877/Massachusetts/Hampden-planning-board-moves-ADU-amendments-to-town-meeting-clarifies-gross-floor-area-and-permitting-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6254877-d85460236364334092b10654d08d090e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770490577&Signature=Mp2J7UT78CsnzDHkO45AU-x4SJz1COg~a~s~1Y4N5yOSw1qflD5pVYPbv19-fIbsroBDiQCTluMj-Ji2TfvT-XVyd2uajEU0aRbePF2kQ86ISD3Z23wx24sXx4MUzelBYIulGAzaac-IrdjfPV3HRlIDcsLxzGueJOw~iM7FEYa7Ka1Q8ZbPZbIsvXUtHqqjyaf9CO9HoEhGihRVpwVM1oVioKZknTaqxQpGAhhTswK4RtFFdKOJjAbxCaCnKA67TT6Zecq4F9lwwXvnk1-I9YQBgiTsaRMN0akN4A7RCZkZCQX6l9SuyCNT5vHWhQDXHkZResSa4pd1pE3m77f0zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Hampden, MA","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","The Town of Hampden Planning Board voted to send proposed amendments governing accessory dwelling units to the May 12 town meeting and clarified several technical points about how the rules would operate if adopted.

Board members discussed how gross floor area (GFA) is calculated for multifamily properties, whether ADUs count toward accessory-building calculations, and which setbacks apply. The board also reviewed whether the draft should reference state law directly and confirmed that conservation, septic and water approvals remain separate permitting requirements.

On GFA, board members confirmed that the calculation uses the area of the largest principal dwelling rather than summing the floor area of all dwellings on a lot for the purpose of ADU sizing. The draft sets a 900-square-foot cap for ADUs in certain circumstances; board members noted an ADU does not count toward the floor-area allowance for accessory buildings. The board clarified that property-line setbacks, not a measured distance from the principal dwelling, govern where a detached ADU may be sited. Board members also noted that ADUs remain subject to conservation commission review and required septic and water approvals where applicable.

Members debated whether to incorporate the Massachusetts statute language directly into the bylaw (a member referenced MGL c.40K) or to cite the statute and rely on the state definition; the board agreed to remove an internal parenthetical definition and rely on the existing statutory framework rather than embedding the full text. Town counsel and other staff sources were cited as available to advise on whether direct statutory language should be included; board members recognized that if state law changes, an embedded statutory definition could require future bylaw amendments.

The planning board made a motion to take the ADU amendments to the May 12 town meeting; another member seconded, and the board voted in favor. Board members said they will prepare a board report and, if the town meeting approves the warrant article, will assemble and send the final materials to the attorney general, with an anticipated planning-board vote on the final letter after town meeting (the board scheduled May 28 to compile its materials).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Hampden, MA: Planning Board (April 30, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The planning board approved sending accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bylaw amendments to the May 12 town meeting and discussed gross floor area calculation, ADU size limits and permitting requirements including conservation and septic review.","taxTitle","Town of Hampden, Hampden County, Massachusetts","taxId",66345,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6254881,"Hampden planning board recommends battery energy storage bylaw for May 12 town meeting",1016,508000,1524000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3168707-5cc82af2ac6102568fa28638400e73a4&start=508&end=1524","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3168707-5cc82af2ac6102568fa28638400e73a4/thumbnail_508000.jpg","/articles/6254881/Massachusetts/Hampden-planning-board-recommends-battery-energy-storage-bylaw-for-May-12-town-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6254881-5b66ccdcacd938c59229531c29dabf3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770490577&Signature=RoOmVXa8oWXWcmCcWi187EpglEmZcAZo9cKwsYSHQ2MAnPzxjlzDtTsMc2zko16ygJ~nej8dh75ID4pMWDn8NR4pUIE8ZlNCLd1Ji0SH~Jh9sDMAwGeoKVxFwJHk9f2mqA1e1VjeuWwW4B9AqkYvIeGI8KUp8~lM0ykePQKfT92WYuhwt-h9M2wL5L5OjzwbGBlJ-65Oox7F8KSfx6cdqZQ8Zg2kJu7iJEGvooTqcw3Kn-ZKY6-75M~R-~Np7~VVfuo-ChmQKViXTLJrEagw22Nv2T~Tl3bd0ZVXVN~n1ZXcbVbZEa4O0hq2TMmif1rUTOKDYHOxjatuOLpObggntQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Hampden Planning Board voted to recommend a proposed bylaw regulating battery energy storage systems for consideration at the May 12 town meeting.

Board members said the draft was updated to increase setback distances and that town counsel can provide a legal memo if the board requests one. Board members discussed fire department limits on extinguishing battery fires and minor editorial and definition fixes before moving the recommendation to town meeting.

Board members said the draft replaces an inconsistent setback reference, raising the required setback to 75 feet where an earlier draft had said 50 feet. During discussion a member asked whether firefighters extinguish battery-system fires with water; a planning board member summarized conversations with firefighters that water is used mainly to keep units flooded until the battery’s stored energy dissipates, not to instantly put the fire out. The board also corrected a typographical error in the draft language and confirmed the acronym “DBH” should read “diameter at breast height” where it applies to tree specifications.

Town counsel was cited in the discussion as available to prepare a legal-position memo and to advise on submission procedures. Board members said copies of the bylaw would be distributed at town meeting and that, if the warrant article passes, the board’s next step would be to forward the enacted language to the Massachusetts attorney general for review. The board scheduled a follow-up meeting for May 28 to finalize the planning board’s report and any letter to the attorney general.

A board member made a motion to recommend the proposed battery energy storage bylaw for the May 12 town meeting; another member seconded, and the board voted in favor. The motion was procedural: it sends the draft to town meeting for a public vote and does not itself adopt any regulatory changes.

Discussion items that did not become formal direction included whether the bylaw should define additional technical terms and whether more prescriptive fire-suppression language was feasible given local fire-department practices. The board noted that any required approvals from state or federal agencies, or details governed by building code or fire code, would remain separate from the town bylaw and could limit local options.

The planning board’s action was limited to recommending the draft to the town meeting; any change in local law will depend on the town meeting vote and subsequent attorney general review.","The Town of Hampden Planning Board voted to recommend a proposed bylaw on battery energy storage systems for the May 12 town meeting after discussing setbacks, fire-protection limits and legal review.","actionData","errors"]

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Hampden planning board moves ADU amendments to town meeting, clarifies gross floor area and permitting limits

Hampden planning board recommends battery energy storage bylaw for May 12 town meeting