Wilmington to improve access to housing

WILMINGTON | On June 24, the town board passed a law to improve access to housing by a 4-1 vote. This law (known as Local Law #2 of 2026) is intended to promote residential housing in Wilmington by decreasing the minimum permissible square footage of a dwelling unit from 500 square feet to 400 square feet — making it easier for people to build, install, and live in new "tiny homes" — and by decreasing the minimum lot size for new manufactured homes from 3 acres to 1 acre. It also clarifies and strengthens the town's existing requirements that all new manufactured homes within Wilmington must undergo site plan review from the town's Planning Board and be attached to a permanent foundation. "We're doing this to spur housing development," said Town of Wilmington Supervisor Tim Follos. "We truly believe that this will make housing more accessible and attainable for people in the area." There were two rounds of public hearings on Local Law #2, where members of the public expressed various concerns and criticisms. Following those hearings, the town board spent several meetings adjusting and fine-tuning the law. For example, to ensure that new manufactured homes don't simply become additional short-term or vacation rentals, which was one concern expressed by the public, the local law prohibits new manufactured homes from being operated as short-term rentals. "Some asked if we were really hearing from the townspeople as a whole when we discussed and revised the amendments to the local laws that have been proposed or passed this year," said Town of Wilmington Deputy Supervisor Laura Dreissigacker Hooker during the June 24 meeting. "I believe that we have heard from the majority of the town about what they would like to have Wilmington look like in the future." Local Law #1 of 2026, which the board passed earlier this year, adds additional screening requirements for new commercial businesses in Wilmington. Local Law #2 provides the town's Planning Board with similar guidelines for new manufactured homes, using similar language. New manufactured homes will now be expected to preserve and, where possible, enhance the existing natural and aesthetic qualities of the project site and its surroundings. However, not everyone agreed with the passage of Local Law #2, including town board member Darin Forbes, who voted against it. One reason he gave was that the town's new Comprehensive Plan hasn't been completed yet. Wilmington's current plan, which outlines the community's goals and details specific measures to achieve them, dates back to 1975, and the town only began updating it earlier this year. But a majority of the town board felt that approving this local law was an important step toward addressing the housing crisis facing Wilmington and other towns in the Adirondack Park, which is thought to be exacerbated by factors such as strict zoning laws and a dramatic increase in the number of short-term vacation rentals in the community. "I strongly believe that tiny homes and manufactured housing are part of the solution to the housing crisis. A part — it's not going to solve the housing crisis totally, that's for sure. But if we continue on the road we are traveling right now, our area will continue to decline," said Wilmington town board member Forest (Randy) Winch during the June 24 meeting. "It's scary to think about not having enough people to work in our schools, hospitals, fire departments, and towns overall. That's why we really do need to come up with more affordable housing in our town and in the surrounding towns before it's too late." To read the complete text of Local Law #2, visit townofwilmington.org.

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Wilmington to improve access to housing

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