Housing Task Force hopes to inspire property owners to create new living units

September 15, 2024 | By Lisa Scagliotti

In one of its efforts to spark new housing development in town, the Waterbury Housing Task Force invites the public to attend its meeting this Thursday, Sept. 19, where it will be discussing Accessory Dwelling Units. 

Referred to as “ADUs” in short, the term refers to small, separate living spaces on the same lot as a single-family home, one example being above-garage apartments, suggested Task Force Chair Joe Camaratta. 

New state development law passed in 2023 intended to generate more housing development includes simpler rules for all types of residential development.

In addition, revised local zoning regulations adopted earlier this summer covering the southern swath of Waterbury – the area between Interstate 89 and the Winooski River and stretching between the town lines with Bolton and Moretown – have relaxed Waterbury’s rules regarding small-scale development such as accessory dwelling units, duplexes and more. Camaratta stresses that ADUs can be added throughout Waterbury and the Housing Task Force is hoping to help inform property owners about the process. The hope is that some will want to add onto existing structures or convert existing spaces into new living units. 

The Task Force will hold a forum on the topic Thursday, from 7 to 8 p.m., in the Steele Room at the municipal offices. The meeting will have a Zoom option as well with a link in the meeting agenda which should be posted on Monday, Sept. 16, on the Task Force page of the town website.

This gathering will be the initial step for the Task Force in a project it hopes to work on this fall and winter. Camaratta said the group has been invited to apply for a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation to develop a workshop series for property owners focusing on small-scale development and flood resilience. The Task Force would like to have discussions to encourage property owners to consider new development of 1-4 units where there is space and zoning allows. 

“Our objective is to empower property owners to take advantage of changes in the regulatory environment and contribute to the development of much-needed affordable housing in Waterbury,” Camaratta said.

The Task Force is working on a list of topics that the workshop series would cover, and it is looking to the community for input on needs and questions that property owners have about the development process. That feedback will be used in the grant proposal, Camaratta said. 

“We want people to tell us what education they need,” he said, offering examples such as financing options, direction on how to become a landlord as well as designing, permitting and building new units.