ADUs can help the housing crunch, says builder

Scott Bailey, a co-founder of Bequall, a California based building firm that specializes in constructing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), published an editorial in the Boston Globe recently. In the piece, he lists changes he wants made to an ADU bill put forward in the MA Legislature in 2023.He takes issue with five components of the bill as it stands. The minimum lot size is too large and he suggests using setbacks as the main zoning requirement to keep the character of the neighborhood. The bill only allows for ADUs for family members with disabilities and seniors, rather than having anyone be able to use them. He says the minimum build size of 450 SF is "arbitrary" and should be increased. The bill requires owner-occupancy in ADUs, and he disagrees with that requirement. Lastly, he'd like the parking space requirement lifted, as many ADUs could be built close to public transit.Wonks and officials have been saying "Massachusetts needs 200,000 new housing units in the next eight years" and this is, says Bailey, a good way to get there.