Highlands City Council approves conditional use permit for accessory dwelling at 260 Meadowlark Lane

Highlands City Council approved a conditional use permit to allow an accessory dwelling unit at 260 Meadowlark Lane at its meeting, voting unanimously after staff said the proposal met local zoning standards.

Autumn Ammon, Community Development Coordinator, told the council, “we received an application for a conditional use permit to allow for accessory dwelling unit to be built on the property located at 260 Meadowlark Lane.” She said the applicants intend the unit for family members and that the proposed ADU would not exceed 50% of the main dwelling’s square footage.

The council packet included the ordinance drafted by the city attorney, a site plan and building elevations for reference. Ammon noted the ordinance and zoning rules prohibit leasing or subletting of an accessory dwelling and bar separate meters for water, gas or electricity. She told the council staff mailed public-notice letters to properties within 200 feet and received a single phone inquiry; that resident expressed no objections.

Ammon also addressed technical standards: she said the proposal meets the local fire-hydrant spacing requirement (hydrants in residential areas every 500 feet) and that setbacks and utility connections shown on the site plan comply with zoning and subdivision standards. When asked whether the CUP would remain with the lot if the property were sold, Ammon said the permit remains with the property if the main house and ADU are sold together; selling the ADU separately would require a replat and compliance with subdivision and zoning standards.

Property owner Josh Binters described the existing utility arrangement on the property and how services would be extended to the ADU: “All of the utility comes down that long panhandle driveway there and terminates, about 20 feet in front of my front door in the front yard. So the new driveway will pass right in front of that utility, and it'll just extend down fiber gas and electricity from where it's at.”

After brief discussion and no public speakers, a council member moved to approve the CUP as written; another council member seconded the motion. The council voted in favor; the chair announced the motion passed unanimously.

The ordinance contains termination provisions and references the city’s zoning rules governing accessory dwelling units. Council members did not request additional conditions beyond those in the ordinance.