City planning staff told the Planning & Zoning Commission on Aug. 28 that no changes are recommended to the city code definitions distinguishing primary (principal) structures and accessory structures.

Aubrey, a staff member, said the topic grew from the annual retreat and three specific questions: whether the required 5-foot separation between buildings (largely driven by the fire code) should be changed, whether a primary structure should be required to be larger than an accessory structure, and whether the city should adopt a formal definition for "primary" or "principal" structure. Staff reported the 2024 fire-code updates clarify separation requirements, engineers' letters have been accepted in some instances (for example, some swimming-pool installations), and changing the code to require the principal structure to be larger could create many nonconforming properties.

Aubrey said, "At the end of the day, we're not recommending any changes. We're recommending that we just leave, the ordinances as they are." Commissioners heard examples that would be affected, including airplane hangars and large accessory buildings on existing properties, and concluded the current approach has been workable. The commission agreed to mark the item off the to-do list for the year.