Commission discusses accessory dwelling request at 5508 Reagan Road; staff says ADU would be for family use, not rental

Planning staff presented a special use permit application to convert an existing accessory building at 5508 Reagan Road into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) of about 875 square feet. The property carries R-40 zoning, and staff explained the city's land development code requires a special use permit for an ADU in that zone.

Staff said the accessory structure exists and that the applicant plans to occupy the space part time for a family member. Staff provided a floor plan and elevation images and stated the ADU would be under the 1,200-square-foot limit for accessory dwellings; staff noted an additional storage area on the structure could add roughly 150 square feet but that the dwelling area itself would remain within the code limit.

Commissioners asked whether rentals such as short-term rentals or separate rentals would be allowed. Planning staff repeated that the city's code prohibits renting accessory buildings, saying "You are not allowed to rent accessory buildings." Commissioners noted enforcement difficulty but confirmed the rule applies; staff said the ADU could not be used as a unit for separate rental or as an Airbnb/VRBO under current code.

Commissioners also asked about when the accessory building was constructed; staff said that information was not available in the record. Staff told commissioners the property is fairly large and that the ADU would be less than 50% of the primary dwelling and well under the lot-percentage threshold.

No formal vote occurred during the work session. The item was discussed so commissioners could ask clarifying questions before any formal public hearing or action.