The Farr West Planning Commission reviewed proposed standards for accessory dwelling units (EADUs), focusing on placement, size, utility connections and permitting. Commissioners sought language that would keep detached units primarily in rear yards while accommodating irregular lots such as cul-de-sacs and corner parcels.

Why it matters: EADU rules determine whether residents can add small secondary living units on single-family lots, which affects housing supply, neighborhood character and utility infrastructure.

Key points from the discussion

- Placement: The commission proposed that an EADU must be located behind the primary dwelling’s rear building plane measured from the foundation and set back from streets at least the same distance as the rear of the primary residence to avoid creating a structure closer to the road than the house. Members discussed specific treatment for cul-de-sac and tapered lots and agreed to adapt existing cul-de-sac setback language used elsewhere in city code.

- Size and form: Commissioners discussed maximum footprints in the 400–500 square-foot range; one member favored 400 sq ft to keep units small and to reduce impacts while others suggested 500 sq ft would permit more usable living space. The commission did not adopt a final numeric limit and said staff will harmonize the size limit with existing accessory-structure rules.

- Construction and occupancy: The draft requires EADUs to be single-family, single-story, slab-on-grade construction (no duplexes, basements or multifamily conversions). EADUs must meet building code for residential structures and gain a conditional-use permit.

- Utilities and sewer connections: Commissioners asked staff to obtain a sentence from the sewer district clarifying sewer-connection requirements for detached EADUs; the sewer district indicated units may require individual connections if not located directly behind the house. Staff will add precise utility-connection language after sewer-district input.

- Setbacks and lot-shape accommodations: The group discussed allowing exceptions for corner and cul-de-sac lots so long as any adjusted placement does not place the EADU closer to the street than the rear of the principal dwelling; staff will adapt existing language for curved-road setbacks and building-depth calculations to accommodate irregular lots.

- Occupancy and percent-of-yard limits: The commission proposed that an EADU may not occupy more than 20% of the area within the applicable setback limitations, consistent with existing accessory-building rules; pools and non-building yard features were raised as questions to be clarified in code drafting.

Next steps

Staff will revise the draft EADU standards to align language with the city’s accessory-building code, seek sewer-district wording on utility connections, and return the redraft to the commission at a subsequent work session. Commissioners said they expect to use existing accessory-dwelling verbiage as much as possible to maintain consistency with current code.

Quotes

"The intent was to try to keep this in the backyard," a commissioner said while describing the EADU placement objective.

"If it could conform with the curvature of the cul-de-sac, that would accomplish what we were trying to do," a commissioner said when discussing setback language for curved streets.

Ending

Staff will produce a revised EADU draft that incorporates sewer-district language and consistent setback calculations for irregular lots; no vote on final code language occurred at this meeting.