Shorewood plan commission advances ADU and duplex study; staff to craft public outreach and code options

The Shorewood Plan Commission voted by consensus to advance proposed changes on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and the village's duplex policy to public engagement, and directed staff to prepare code-option ranges and outreach materials for a mid‑November open house.

Planning staff summarized a draft ADU proposal that includes three ADU types (internal, attached and detached), owner‑occupancy options, size and height limits, parking requirements and a potential short‑term rental prohibition. Staff told the commission that ADUs are being reintroduced in communities statewide but often face cost and parking challenges; Wauwatosa has permitted ADUs for several years but seen low uptake and now offers incentives, staff said.

Commissioners debated details that would influence whether ADUs are built. Commissioners raised these principal points: whether to require maintenance of existing enclosed parking or allow driveway/off‑street parking; the effect of a parking requirement on ADU cost; whether to include an owner‑occupancy test (a Milwaukee approach); maximum accessory structure footprint (item noted: 10% accessory structure and 30% principal structure were referenced as example thresholds); and whether to prohibit short‑term rentals in ADUs. Director Hennings recommended presenting a spectrum of options for public comment rather than fixing a single rule.

Several commissioners emphasized limiting regulatory burdens so ADUs remain financially feasible. One commissioner said community uptake in comparable cities has been low and argued for focusing on options that lower cost barriers. Another commissioner supported owner‑occupancy at the time of creation to discourage speculative short‑term rental uses.

On duplexes, staff presented a historical review showing Shorewood allowed two‑family dwellings in earlier codes, then carved out single‑family districts starting in 1957 and added a prohibition on new duplexes in many districts in a 1983 recodification. Staff asked whether the village should allow duplexes in its existing single‑ and two‑family residence districts and whether the village should prohibit conversion of existing duplexes into single‑family homes. Commissioners indicated consensus to move forward with exploring allowing duplexes and to refrain from prohibiting the conversion of duplexes into single‑family homes.

As next steps, staff will develop a public engagement plan, draft code options that show a range of choices (parking spectrum, size/height envelopes, owner‑occupancy, short‑term rental prohibition), and schedule an open house in mid‑November (staff suggested Nov. 13 if not a holiday). The plan commission will review public feedback at its next meeting before drafting ordinance language for Village Board consideration.

Staff also committed to providing data on typical ADU construction costs and the incremental cost of parking upgrades to inform the public conversation.