Council reviews accessory-dwelling-unit code changes; planning commission’s short-term-rental restriction removed before council review

Senior planner Jeremy Hammer briefed council on proposed code changes to implement state accessory dwelling unit (ADU) requirements and to replace the city’s older accessory-apartment rules. City Attorney review and planning commission review were completed and the commission held a public hearing before forwarding a recommendation.

Hammer said the draft includes new definitions, amends the land-use table to allow ADUs outright, repeals old accessory-apartment criteria, and sets parking at one space per ADU. The planning commission recommended raising the maximum ADU size from 1,000 square feet to 1,200 square feet and added a prohibition on using new ADUs as short-term rentals; Hammer said the draft also clarifies that ADUs are exempt from underlying-zone density limits.

Counc…