Planning director reports 20 ADU permits, 10 single-family permits and outlines surplus-lands steps

Planning staff reported at the Aug. 20 meeting that the town has issued 20 permits for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and 10 permits for single-family dwellings so far this year, figures staff described as near or slightly above the town's recent average. Sage, planning staff, said the department added a new section to the director's report that tracks the town's progress against Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) numbers and that the figures reflect activity from January through August. The director's report is in the meeting packet. On multifamily sites, staff said the town is at an early stage of the Surplus Lands Act process, which requires steps before local land disposal that offers surplus land to affordable-housing developers. Staff said the town attorney is reviewing the steps and that staff expects to begin outreach or request-for-qualifications work by late this year or early next year. No formal decision was made on the multifamily sites at the meeting; staff characterized the work as preparatory and regulatory compliance steps needed before seeking development partners. The director's report and the planning update conclude the commission's business for the night and identify the department's next outreach and code-update priorities, including coordination with the fire marshal on zoning changes related to defensible-space and combustible materials.