Carbondale planning panel recommends UDC changes to expand ADU options, set 190‑sq‑ft minimum

The Carbondale Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously on Jan. 8 to recommend that the Board of Trustees approve a package of amendments to the town's Unified Development Code governing accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The package includes aligning UDC language with the International Building Code (IBC), explicitly permitting ADUs on single‑family homes and duplexes, adopting the IBC's 190‑square‑foot minimum for livable ADU units, and clarifying parking and certain OTR lot‑coverage issues.

Staff presenter Jared Mork told the commission the work should be "bifurcate[d]" into two parts: the code amendments ready for recommendation and several larger items that may need additional review, such as PUD amendment procedures and OTR lot coverage. "If you feel comfortable with the regulations as drafted ... I think we can move forward with the recommendation of approval to the board of trustees," Mork said during the presentation.

Why it matters: supporters said the changes will streamline permitting and expand lower‑cost housing opportunities without creating new, unregulated development pathways. Commissioners repeatedly framed the work as a step toward efficiency requested by the Board of Trustees and…