Hurricane council narrows front-yard zoning language, drops plan to allow front-yard ADUs on 1-acre lots

HURRICANE — The City Council on Monday approved Ordinance 25-17, a measure that clarifies the municipal code’s definition of front yards and removes a staff proposal to permit detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in front yards on lots of one acre or larger.

The ordinance, introduced by planning staff as a continuation of a December review, standardizes yard and setback definitions, deletes the terms “Casita” and “guest house” so those structures are treated consistently as dwelling units, and tightens language that had led to legal ambiguity, Planning staff Gary said.

Council members spent more than an hour debating whether to allow detached ADUs in front yards on large lots, how large such lots should be and whether to limit the number or size of ADUs permitted. Some members urged caution. “I don’t want to see opening the door for front-yard construction and then see people exploit the code,” Councilmember Fruit told colleagues during the debate.

After discussion, a motion passed to approve the ordinance as drafted but to remove the one‑acre exception that would have explicitly allowed front‑yard ADUs. The council asked staff to return with options — including a possible cap on detached ADUs, size limits, and acreage thresholds — and to process those changes through the planning commission with public notice.

Mayor and council did not vote by named roll call for the ordinance item on the record in this transcript; the motion was approved by voice vote. Staff noted that separate code changes that would alter the conditional‑use framework (such as allowing a second ADU on 0.8 acres) would require additional public notice and a planning‑commission review.

What’s next: Planning staff will draft the follow‑up language the council requested — including proposals on maximum detached‑ADU size and limits on the number of detached ADUs per lot — and return the issue for further review and public comment.