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Planning Commission moves ADU recommendations to Town Council; ASRV hears update
Summary
Planning staff briefed the ASRV on proposed ADU ordinance changes tied to the housing element: expanding additional ADUs to larger sites, allowing ADUs on steeper slopes and allowing septic/utilities in steeper areas; Planning Commission recommended two changes and will forward items to the Town Council on Dec. 10.
Planning staff updated the ASRV on proposed changes to Woodside’s ADU rules that stem from the town’s housing element work, and said the Planning Commission was generally supportive and made two recommendations that will go to the Town Council on Dec. 10.
The planner told the board the proposed changes would allow additional ADUs on sites over two acres in most zoning districts and over one acre in the SR district; permit ADUs and related utilities, such as septic, on slopes steeper than 35 percent in limited circumstances; and revise the local definition of "emergency shelter" to align with state requirements. "These ADU changes had to do with what are required in the housing element programs," the planner said.
The Planning Commission offered two recommendations to carry forward: expand eligibility for additional ADUs to one‑acre sites across districts (not only SR) and apply the proposed utilities flexibility to attached ADUs as well as detached units. Staff said these recommendations will be forwarded to the Town Council on Dec. 10 for consideration, with additional ordinance language to follow.
Board members asked about the policy motivation and pointed out how existing 15‑foot side‑yard setbacks in the SR zone can limit usable yard space and influence site design; one member suggested smaller side‑yard setbacks may allow more usable open space on lots.
The planner said changes are largely minor word modifications to align local code with housing element objectives, and that the Planning Commission had mostly supportive comments from the public during its review.
