BIDDEFORD — The Biddeford City Council unanimously approved two amendments to its land development regulations during on Tuesday.

The first of the two amendments allows for the construction of accessory dwelling units in residential zones, other than the Coastal-Residential, or CR, zone.

According to the council’s agenda packet, allowing the units to be constructed serves several purposes, including serving the needs of older homeowners, smaller households and persons with disabilities.

City officials say accessory dwelling units provide older homeowners with a means of obtaining rental income, companionship, security and services, and to downsize, while allowing them to stay comfortably in their homes.

Such units also reduce the expansion of infrastructure needs and, as a result, land consumption, city officials say.

City Planner Greg Tansley said Tuesday that the Planning Board thought it appropriate to leave the CR zone out of the amendment because the area, located toward Biddeford Pool and the Atlantic Ocean, is already congested with homes.

“The density is already out there in that area, and this might be overtaxing it,” Tansley said, noting that the CR zone could be included at a later date pending council approval, if there was a demand.

Councilor Michael Swanton agreed with Tansley’s decision, and further amended the measure to omit the Limited Residential and Resource Protection zones, which are laid over the CR zone.

The council unanimously approved both Swanton’s amendment and the measure to allow for the construction of accessory dwelling units.

The second approved amendment related to changes to the Shoreland Zoning ordinance, those changes were passed by the council in October after months of contentious debate.

The amendment states all non-conforming structures less than 100 feet from the normal high-water line of a water body may not be expanded to a size greater than 1,000 square feet, or 30 percent larger than the footprint that existed on Jan. 1, 1989, whichever is greater.

The ordinance originally specified those regulations for structures less than 100 feet, but greater than 25 feet, from the high-water line.

Tansley said the state asked the city to clarify the language as it created loopholes for residents living in the shoreland zone to construct non-conforming structures less than 25 feet than the water’s edge.

“The language we put in here, which we’re asking to be removed, was our attempt at clarifying something,” Tansley said. “(But it) actually loosened the restrictions because it could be interpreted differently.”

The council voted unanimously to amend the ordinance.

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.