Warren — The council on Oct. 14 directed staff to review a proposed accessory dwelling unit (ADU) zoning ordinance update and return recommendations, as the town works to conform local rules to recently amended state law that encourages ADU production.

Solicitor and sponsor remarks: The town solicitor and Councilor Derek Trombley explained that the General Assembly has amended state law to require municipalities to permit certain accessory dwelling units by right, subject to objective local standards, and that towns must update local codes by year‑end to remain compliant. The solicitor advised that the proposed local ordinance broadly aligns with state requirements but asked that the building official and planning consultant evaluate the draft for technical and code implications.

Council concerns: Councilors flagged several technical points for staff review, including parking requirements (the draft references one parking space per ADU per bedroom but councilors asked whether the ordinance should require a minimum rather than a maximum), whether additions to detached accessory structures should trigger dimensional relief if they expand nonconforming setbacks, and whether a townwide sewer‑capacity impact study should be done separately to measure cumulative effects of ADUs and other housing production.

Action taken: Council voted to refer the matter to the building official and the planning consultant for a report at the next meeting and to forward the item to the planning board and later to a public hearing so the town could meet state timelines.

Next steps: The building official and planning consultant will deliver recommended edits at the council’s next meeting and the planning board will then hold a public hearing. Councilors emphasized a need to reconcile ADU policy with infrastructure capacity planning before final adoption.