With the number of homeowner requests rising to increase the size of current accessory dwellings in town, the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) is looking to amend regulations to allow for increased space and cut away the current three-year prior occupany requirement.  A public hearing on the text amendment will be held during the next PZC meeting on Thurs. April 21, 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

North Branford Town Planner Carey Duques said one of the reasons the PZC is petitioning for the change is because an increasing number of residents are finding it necessary to provide living space for extended family members.

"A lot of families are living together in town and one of the reasons the commission is in favor of the increase is to be able to provide the ability for families to stay in their home and provide for in-laws or family requiring handicapped accessibility," said Duques.

Under current zoning, residents who seek to increase accessory dwelling square footage above the current allowable maximum need to apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).  A steady climb in appeals over an extended period has helped to signal the need for the PZC to consider the text amendment.

The text amendment calls for increasing the size limit of an accessory dwelling unit from 600 square feet to 750 square feet or one-third the square footage of the principle single family home, whichever is less. Current regulations allow for 600 square feet or one-fourth the square footage.

The amendment also calls for striking out the current requirement that the applicant has held a Certificate of Occupancy of the principle single family home for at least three years. The change would allow for new home owners to apply more readily, and for new homes to be built with accessory dwellings.

In layman's terms, an accessory dwelling unit is "...is a dwelling that has its own kitchen, bathroom and bedroom that's contained within a single family home," said Duques.

The owner of the property has to occupy either the accessory unit or the single family home. The unit can be rented.