Springdale Planning Commission refines accessory-structure rules, sends ADU recommendations to public hearing

SPRINGDALE, Utah ' The Springdale Planning Commission reviewed draft ordinances that would change how residential accessory structures are sized, sited and reviewed, and agreed to schedule a public hearing on housing-committee recommendations for accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

The commission met April 2 at Worth Canyon Community Center and spent the bulk of a two-hour work session on two linked but distinct items that both propose revisions to town code section 10-20-8: one item updates rules on the size, height and visual impact of accessory structures; the other contains ADU-related changes proposed by the housing committee. No final ordinances were adopted at the meeting.

The changes under review would: rename 10-20-8 to expand the topic from "accessory buildings" to "residential accessory structures"; create a new code section (proposed 10-20-16) establishing total allowable structure on a residential property; set baseline and bonus square-foot thresholds for large lots; remove a circle-radius distance alternative for bonus square footage; and add detailed direction on how exceptions are reviewed. The housing committee's recommendations would keep external ADUs limited to 1,500 square feet, set a 17-foot maximum ADU height (subject to being further limited by an existing zone height), require on-site parking for external ADUs, and require external ADUs only on properties of at least 0.5 acre.

Why it matters: the draft rules would affect whether and where homeowners can build large detached garages, barns and other accessory…