The Hutto Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend disapproval to city council of a proposed specific use permit (SUP) for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 224 Brown Street in the Huddle Park subdivision.

Staff said the property is in SF-1 single-family zoning and that ADUs are allowed in the district with an approved SUP. The planner told the commission the lot is 7,800 square feet—the minimum lot size the UDC requires for an ADU—and that the SUP application arose from a code-enforcement referral. Staff said some work on the property was completed without permits and that the application package will require additional actions, including possible variances to address encroachments if the SUP were approved.

Members of the public raised questions during the public hearing about rental use and HOA restrictions. A resident asked whether an ADU can be used as an Airbnb; staff replied the city does not separately regulate short-term rental use through the SUP and that whether a property may be used for commercial short-term rental also depends on the property's homeowner association covenants and any applicable management agreements.

Commissioners called attention to several technical concerns in the staff packet: the ADU structure appears to be built over the building line, surface coverage appeared high and impervious cover was reported in the packet as 68.7 percent, and several improvements lacked building permits. Commissioners also expressed concern about drainage and asked for a formal drainage study before they would approve an after-the-fact SUP. One commissioner said they would vote against the SUP because approving it would set an undesirable precedent for retroactive approvals. The planner noted the ADU size conforms to the city's ADU size rules in relation to the main structure as presented in the packet but confirmed the guest house and some other improvements lacked permits.

After discussion Commissioner Morris moved to recommend disapproval to city council; the motion carried 4-0.

Commissioners asked staff to ensure the application package to council clearly documents existing permit gaps, easement and setback encroachments, impervious coverage and drainage data so council has the technical record needed to consider any future action.