UpdatedFri, Apr 23, 2021 at 9:56 am ET
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Salem City Council President Christine Madore: This is the first affordable housing policy ever adopted in Salem, with rents capped at 70 percent of (full-market rate). One more passage makes it final, but this is huge for the city. (Shutterstock)
SALEM, MA After three years of debate, and two previous votes where majority City Council approval was not enough to pass the Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance under state laws, Salem appears on its way to allowing so-called in-law apartments after a 7-4 vote of the council Thursday night.
The ordinance, which would allow property owners to rent out smaller areas of their homes at below full-market rate, twice passed the City Council with a 6-5 vote in recent years but fell short of the two-thirds supermajority required under previous state law. Gov. Charlie Baker in March signed the state s new economic development package that now allows cities and towns to make zoning changes based o