The Atascadero Planning Commission voted Tuesday to adopt a draft resolution updating the city’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations to conform with recent state requirements and Housing and Community Development (HCD) findings, and directed staff to present City Council with options for measuring ADU height on sloped lots.

Planning Manager (referred to in the meeting as Miss Gleeson) told commissioners the city’s ADU ordinance — originally adopted in 2003 — required regular updates after HCD reviewed local ordinances for state-law consistency. The staff presentation summarized several changes the state requires, including allowing ADUs on multifamily properties regardless of current density, setting a 4-foot minimum setback for new ADUs, and incorporating Assembly Bill 1154’s changes to junior ADU owner-occupancy rules.

Staff said deed-restriction language will be revised to require an owner-signed notification about ADU limitations (such as a 30-day minimum rental restriction) rather than impose new local restrictions. Staff also added a clarification requested by the state that the construction of an ADU will not trigger a requirement to install sprinklers in the existing primary residence.

During questions, a commissioner asked whether the city has a process to bring previously unpermitted ADUs into compliance. Planning Manager (Miss Gleeson) replied the building-permit side handles that process under state law, and the city posts a health-and-safety checklist online and assists owners through permitting to retain that housing stock.

Commissioners raised concerns about how ADU height is measured on steep lots, noting local topography (including steep parcels on the city’s western and eastern edges) can make average-finished-grade measurements prohibitively high for one-story ADUs. Staff said the city currently measures height from average finished grade, but offered two options to present to the City Council: (1) measure height from the lowest point on the lot to preserve state height allowances, or (2) increase local height allowances and use the city’s standard measurement. Commissioners asked staff to present objective, administrable standards so ADU permits can be processed ministerially when appropriate.

A motion to approve the staff recommendation and add a provision directing staff to present standardized height-measurement options to City Council was made and seconded; roll call recorded support from the commissioners present and the motion passed.

The Commission’s action updates Chapter 5 of Title 9 regarding accessory dwelling units for consistency with state law and HCD determinations; staff will bring the recommended language and the two height-measurement options to City Council for consideration.

The Planning Manager also reminded the commission of upcoming work on the general plan and zoning code reorganization and a new "Coffee with a Planner" outreach series beginning in mid-January.