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Planning director updates commission on ADU urgency ordinance, open‑space update and School Street Plaza resubmission
Summary
Staff told the commission on Nov. 20 that the School Street Plaza resubmitted materials are under review, the town will ask the council for an urgency ADU ordinance on Dec. 3 to comply with state changes, and the town will update its open‑space element in 2026 to address state environmental‑justice requirements; commissioners also pressed for clarity on evacuation‑route requirements under state law.
At the Nov. 20 Fairfax Planning Commission meeting planners provided a multi‑item update: the School Street Plaza project resubmitted materials and staff is reviewing them; the town plans an urgency ordinance at the Dec. 3 council meeting to implement recent, minor state changes to accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules so the town does not lose its ADU ordinance on Jan. 1; and staff plans open‑space element updates in 2026 to address new state environmental‑justice requirements.
Planner (reporting) said the School Street Plaza application resubmitted materials last Friday and that staff posted the materials on the town website for review. On ADUs, the planner said the urgency ordinance would adopt state regulations to maintain local ADU rules now required to be updated by Jan. 1; the commission will review the matter again when the ordinance returns in December.
Commissioners raised whether certain small accessory structures (for example, under about 120 sq ft) could be handled ministerially rather than requiring a commission hearing, and asked staff to produce a draft list of application types that could be approved administratively. Commissioners also discussed AB “14 oh 9” as referenced in the transcript — a state amendment the commission said requires safety elements to address evacuation routes, capacity and evacuation locations under various emergency scenarios — and asked staff to consult public‑safety partners for clarity and incorporate any required updates into the town’s safety element review.
Planner updates also included recent BePack (Bicycle & Pedestrian advisory committee) walk audits of town center and a planned holistic evaluation of dark‑sky lighting with public works. Commissioners requested an update at the December meeting on any changes to the Brown Act teleconferencing rules and on a draft code addressing formula businesses being developed by the town attorney.
What’s next: Staff will bring ADU urgency ordinance materials to council on Dec. 3 and return to the commission for review; planners will propose open‑space updates in 2026 and provide follow‑up briefings on evacuation‑route requirements and Brown Act teleconferencing.
