The Franklin Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously on Oct. 1, 2025, to approve a special exception and a development-standards variance allowing an attached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and related additions at 1045 East King Street.

The board approved a special exception to permit an ADU in the RSN zoning district and a variance to allow the ADU to exceed the 1,000-square-foot limit, establishing a maximum living area of 1,064 square feet. The approvals also cover a remodel that converts the existing single-car garage into interior living space, construction of a three-car garage, and covered camper/RV storage at the rear of the approximately 1-acre lot. The board attached conditions requiring a single accessory dwelling unit to run with the property, a cap on the ADU’s living area, minimum off-street paved parking, and compliance with all applicable federal, state, county and local permits and codes.

Why it matters: ADU approvals affect housing options and neighborhood character and set local precedents for how the ordinance’s size and placement limits are interpreted. The petitioners told the board the ADU is intended to house an elderly relative and argued the design is subordinate to the primary residence; staff recommended approval with conditions.

Petitioner Joshua Prine told the board the primary purpose of the addition is to provide on-site living for his mother-in-law, who recently turned 80. "We are planning on building a 3 car garage ... my mother-in-law will be moving into this space here where we have determined that she does not need to be living alone by herself," Prine said. He described an L-shaped design positioned to the side and rear of the house and said the property has sufficient setbacks and open space: about 20 feet to the east property line and roughly 140 feet from the back of the ADU to the rear property line.

Senior planner Alex Getchell presented the staff report and recommended approval of the special exception with conditions A–D, including that the ADU living area be prohibited beyond 1,000 square feet unless the board approves a variance and that at least four off-street paved parking spaces be provided on-site. Getchell also recommended approval of the variance with conditions that limit the attached, ground-floor ADU to no more than 1,064 square feet and reiterate that all applicable permits and code compliance are required.

Planning director Joanna Tennell clarified a drafting error in the staff report related to the ordinance-intent criterion, stating the correct recommendation is that the proposal "will not be contrary to the general purposes" of the zoning ordinance and "will not permanently injure" other property. Tennell and Getchell both said neighboring properties already include ADUs, noting precedent in the vicinity.

Board action: The board voted to approve the special exception and then the development-standards variance, each by unanimous vote. The approvals include the staff conditions: the ADU approval runs with the property; any living-area expansion beyond the approved 1,064 square feet is prohibited; a minimum of four off-street paved parking spaces must be provided; and applicants must obtain all required building, fire and health permits before occupancy.

The petitioners told the board that if the elderly relative later no longer needs the unit, they may repurpose the space for other family members. The board heard no public opposition during the meeting and had no substantive questions for the petitioner beyond staff’s checklist of decision criteria.

Next steps: The petitioner must obtain required permits and meet the conditions of approval; the board’s approvals do not replace building, fire or health inspections and permits required by the city and other authorities.