ASHFIELD — The Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board are looking to get creative around zoning to help address the need for housing.

The two boards met with Franklin Regional Council of Governments Building Commissioner and Ashfield Zoning Enforcement Agent James Hawkins on Wednesday to discuss the growing number of inquiries around non-traditional housing configurations and potential bylaw changes that could expand the number of homes in town.

“Affordable housing? No such thing. It has gone completely wacky,” Hawkins said in response to a question about building more affordable housing in Ashfield.

Planning Board Chair Rick Chandler explained town officials are getting more frequent inquiries about building cluster housing and other creative housing developments in Ashfield. He noted the ZBA and Planning Board expect to receive a complete application soon, making developments a growing reality.

The town’s existing bylaws allow for one structure to be built on 2-acre lots that have at least 200 feet of road frontage. But with ideas around tiny homes and a need for more housing, changes to the bylaws and variances may be in the town’s future.

Chandler explained one potential applicant hopes to build two large structures on a 30-acre lot, alongside smaller structures that would be individually owned or leased. These buildings would all be centered around the theme of agriculture and rural living.

“It is almost like a campground with permanent structures,” Chandler said.

The potential applicant hopes to avoid the property needing to be subdivided, which would mean it would be far more expensive to build.

“We haven’t seen a subdivision in a while,” Hawkins said. “It is expensive to develop.”

Chandler noted old town bylaws reference mobile homes, which are allowed for temporary use when a home is under construction, but there is no reference in the bylaws to tiny homes. Tiny homes that are connected to a septic system would thus be considered permanent structures and would have the same requirements as other buildings: a minimum 2-acre lot with at least 200 feet of road frontage.

One idea Hawkins offered involves lowering the road frontage requirements. He said the town could decrease the frontage requirement to 100 feet, allowing for lots to be split up for new construction.

“It’s hard to find 2-acre lots to develop on because they are all being used or the owners do not want to sell the land,” Chandler noted.

Town officials have studied some Colrain development bylaws, which Chandler said are more thorough than Ashfield’s.

“We’re looking at theirs as an example,” Chandler said.

Another suggestion offered was the creation of accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bylaws. ADUs are homes smaller than 800 square feet that are connected to the septic and well systems of the larger host homes on the property. Currently, ADUs are not allowed in Ashfield, but neighboring towns, including Buckland, have been incorporating ADU regulations into their bylaws in recent years.

However, Hawkins advised ADUs are not helpful when it comes to adding affordable housing because of the high price point for their construction.

“It costs about $300,000 to build an ADU so people are unlikely to build one,” Hawkins said. He said sometimes parents moving to their children’s properties are able to afford the construction, using the funds from the parents’ newly sold homes.

Chandler cautioned that town officials are only “in the early stages” of thinking about potential housing solutions.

“This isn’t something that will happen fast,” Chandler said, noting that any potential bylaw changes regulating housing will need to be approved by town voters.

Reach Bella Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.