Herriman planning commission backs draft to allow detached ADUs with limits on size, height and road cuts
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Summary
The Herriman Planning Commission voted to recommend a draft amendment to Title 10 permitting detached accessory dwelling units with a 7,000 sq ft minimum lot, a 1,000 sq ft ADU maximum, 25-foot maximum height, required owner-occupancy and guidance to avoid new roadway cuts and separate utility meters.
The Herriman Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council consider a draft amendment to Title 10 to permit detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) under specified conditions.
Staff presented the draft and several planning commissioners debated details for more than an hour. The commission agreed on several guardrails the motion sent forward: a 7,000-square-foot minimum lot size, a 1,000-square-foot maximum ADU floor area, a 25-foot maximum height, side and rear setbacks to match accessory-structure rules, a required owner-occupant on the primary dwelling, and an explicit prohibition on short-term rentals. The motion also asked the council to prioritize avoiding roadway cuts and to consider impact fees if a separate sewer or water connection is required.
Why it matters: the city framed the ordinance as part of its moderate-income housing efforts and as a response to resident requests. Staff told commissioners a state draft is under consideration and that the city wanted a local framework ready for council consideration even if state law changes.
What the ordinance would do: under the commission recommendation, a detached ADU would be permitted administratively if it met the standards rather than requiring a conditional-use hearing. The draft limits ADU size to 1,000 total square feet and proposes owner-occupancy; it also leaves the question of separate meters and impact fees to the council or future policy discussion. Staff noted a state draft would allow two off-street stalls for ADUs larger than 650 sq ft but said state guidance is not yet final.
Key points raised in deliberations: commissioners debated minimum lot size (current draft referenced 6,000 sq ft; several members preferred 7,000–8,000; another noted some neighboring cities use 12,000 sq ft). Parking generated disagreement: some members favored keeping a single required off-street stall in the local draft; others supported a two-stall requirement if the ADU exceeded a size threshold. Commissioners and staff also discussed allowing one internal ADU and one detached ADU on a single lot and preserving a path for preexisting accessory structures to be converted with commission review.
Direct quotes from the meeting include staff's clarification that “we've maintained that, no short term rental, and that's anything over 30 days,” and the motion-maker's summary of the recommendation: “With an adjustment that the minimum lot size is 7,000 square feet… The maximum floor area is 1000 square feet. Maximum height is 25 feet… owner occupied only.” The motion also asked the council to “avoid cutting the road in any way possible” and to tie new units to existing utility connections where practicable.
Vote and next steps: the commission approved the recommendation by voice/roll-call (yes votes recorded for the commissioners on the dais). Staff said they intend to brief the City Council and that the council work session was expected later in February. The commission scheduled regular future meetings and adjourned.
Implementation notes: staff said the draft is intended to be conservative — favoring smaller detached ADUs rather than accessory structures that feel like a second home — and emphasized that questions about separate meters, sewer capacity or impact fees remain for the council or administration to resolve.
