City councillor seeks review of ADU ordinance amid surge in applications

Angela Guarino-Sawaya says increase in accessory dwelling units raises concerns about neighborhood density, infrastructure and stormwater impacts after new state law spurred 58 permit requests.

By Barbara Taormina

Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya presented a motion at the City Council’s May 18 meeting requesting a review and evaluation of the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance in light of the dramatic increase in permit applications. In February 2025, Massachusetts legalized ADUs under the Affordable Homes Act. Massachusetts law now allows homeowners to build one ADU by right on single-family lots, up to 900 square feet. Cities and towns can still impose rules, such as limited parking and setback requirements. The state offers grants for municipalities that need help drafting ADU ordinances through the Community One Stop for Growth program.

Guarino-Sawaya is requesting the Planning & Community Development Department, Inspectional Services Department (ISD), Engineering Department, Conservation Commission, Fire Department and City Solicitor to review the ordinance and provide recommendations to strengthen local structural, dimensional and site design standards where permissible under state law. Guarino-Sawaya wants city officials to specifically examine building size, height, setbacks, lot coverage and overall scale of ADUs in relation to surrounding residential properties; detached ADU placement, building massing and preservation of usable open space on residential lots; drainage, stormwater runoff, floodplain impacts and resiliency concerns in coastal and low-lying areas; driveway expansions, curb cuts and excessive paved surface coverage; and utility and infrastructure capacity, including sewer, water and emergency vehicle access.

According to Guarino-Sawaya, prior to the change in the state law, Revere received three applications for permits for ADUs and all three were denied. After the change, there were 58 applications, 54 of which were approved. Guarino-Sawaya combed through the records and found 32 ADUs were approved for single-family homes, 17 ADUs for two-family houses, one ADU for a three-family residence and one ADU was detached. City records show 42 of the ADUs were basement conversions.

“These are substantial changes and I believe it is our responsibility to look at the impacts and look at the long-term effects on our neighborhoods,” said Guarino-Sawaya.

She stressed that the motion was not about eliminating ADUs. Guarino-Sawaya acknowledged ADUs provide residents with opportunities to create affordable housing and intergenerational housing. And it allows families to bolster their finances with rental income.

But she also noted Revere is densely populated, overbuilt and overcrowded. “I think we are too congested to have houses on top of one another.”

“We hear these things all the time. I think it’s appropriate to pause and see if additional guidelines are needed,” she said. “We owe it to the residents to monitor this situation.”

Guarino-Sawaya said residents are complaining. She questioned the impact on infrastructure and noted ADUs are permitted without any requirements or agreements for mitigation.

Councillor-at-Large Michelle Kelley had previously proposed a home rule petition that would exempt Revere from the state’s ADU guidelines. “I asked the city solicitor to give a legal opinion. I wanted us to be exempt,” explained Kelley. “But the city solicitor said we could not pursue exemption.”

Kelley went on to say that oversight should be consistent. She offered a friendly amendment to Guarino-Sawaya’s motion, asking that the concerns raised for ADUs also be applied to any development project exceeding 30 units.

“I think we need to scale back on how many permits are issued,” said Guarino-Sawaya. “This is something important that will be helpful to everybody.”