Planning Board approves minutes, debates ADU exemption

Planning Board · Meeting of September 2, 2026

AMHERST — The Amherst Planning Board voted 5-0 to approve its amended May minutes and spent most of the meeting debating whether to seek a state exemption from the ADU by-right law. Member Jesse Mager argued new accessory dwelling units are overwhelmingly becoming student rentals rather than serving the workforce and low-income housing the law intended, citing a records review of roughly 30,000 to 40,000 property transactions that found almost no rentals ever sold back to owner-occupants. Clerk Bruce Coldham proposed skipping the town's law firm and instead having Mager and him "drive into Boston" with the town's state representative.

Town Planner Walker Powell was skeptical the state would act, calling ADUs a "Dover Amendment use" the state has rarely restricted. No vote was taken on the ADU question. The board separately floated rezoning parcels near UMass, including blocks north of Fearing Street, into the fraternity/sorority zone to add student housing and tax base, with a draft due September 16.

Roy Johnson and Jerah Smith were absent.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,547 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of September 2, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.