The ordinance has gone through several tweaks since its introduction through a letter from City Councilor Hannah Bowen last year, with those making final passage including an allowance for those building an ADU to seek a variance for a non-conforming property, and the flexibility to have a dedicated parking spot be part of a shared driveway or parking area.

“It feels like we’re reaching the end of the process in a very natural way,” Bowen said Monday night. “The amount of public comment sort of peaked at the time when we still had the most work still to do. That’s been addressed. I think the recommendations from the Planning Department and the Planning Board make the ordinance even stronger.

“So, really excited to see how the process has played out and the place that we’ve landed with a really strong ordinance that, as others have said, I believe will be a great step in the right direction.”

Read the full story from the Beverly Patch here.