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Council adopts ADU ordinance to comply with state law; adds clarification on front‑yard setbacks
Summary
Council voted unanimously to amend North Bend Municipal Code to comply with House Bill 1337 and to clarify that detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) must meet side and rear yard setbacks and are not allowed within front yard setbacks; staff and a public commenter urged complementary incentives for accessible and affordable units.
The City Council on March 18 approved AB25‑020, an ordinance amending North Bend Municipal Code chapters 18.06, 18.10 and 18.30 to update accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules and bring zoning into compliance with state requirements under House Bill 1337. Miss Hemsworth presented the proposed code changes and said the Department of Commerce reviewed the draft and found it in conformance with the state law.
Caitlin (address given as 980 Mountain View Boulevard SE) spoke in favor of the ordinance during public comment, urging the council to consider incentives to encourage ADUs designed for older adults and to support lower‑cost rentals. She cited regional data on young adults living with parents and on senior housing needs as reasons the city should pursue ADU adoption and supportive programs.
Staff circulated a minor amendment at the meeting to clarify setback language: detached ADUs must meet the same bulk and dimensional requirements as the principal unit, including a minimum 5‑foot side yard setback and a 10‑foot rear yard setback, and detached ADUs would not be permitted within the front yard setback. Staff said this change restores consistency with the city’s prior code intent and avoids unintentionally allowing ADUs in the front yard setback.
Council member Bridal Elwood moved the ordinance on a first and final reading and Council member Alan Gautel seconded. The roll call recorded all council members present voting in favor and the ordinance “totally passed unanimously,” according to the meeting record.
Ending: The ordinance updates North Bend’s zoning code to reflect state ADU law and adds local clarifications on placement and dimensional standards. Council and staff discussed follow‑up items such as possible impact‑fee adjustments and programmatic incentives for accessible or below‑market rentals; those items will be considered separately as implementation steps.
