Commission provides direction on detached ADUs ahead of state mandate; staff to draft ordinance
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Summary
Ahead of an October state deadline, planning staff briefed the commission on SB 284 requirements for detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs). Commissioners reached preliminary agreement on key points — parking per state thresholds, owner‑occupancy requirement, a livable square‑foot target around 1,200–1,300 and using lot‑percentage footprint limits — and asked staff and public works to study impact fees and utilities before a formal vote.
Planning staff briefed the Highland City Planning Commission on SB 284, the new state law that requires cities to allow detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) on qualifying lots by October. Staff outlined what the law mandates and what local regulations may still address: allowable minimum lot sizes (state default 11,000 sq ft), parking rules tied to ADU size, building/health/fire code compliance, and what the city may regulate such as ADU size, height and setbacks.
Commissioners debated specific local parameters. On parking, the commission voiced support for the state threshold (one space if the ADU is 650 sq ft or less; two if larger) as a practical approach, while also acknowledging local circumstances. For ADU size, commissioners discussed a range of options and converged on a working cap of approximately 1,200–1,300 square feet of livable space as a compromise between small accessory units and full second houses; several commissioners said they prefer using the zoning percentage rule (5% or 7% of lot area depending on zone) to keep footprint proportional to lot size.
Commissioners agreed that one of the two units (main dwelling or ADU) should be owner‑occupied and that the city should retain typical building‑code and setback rules. On heights and setbacks, commissioners generally favored accessory‑structure setbacks (10 ft sides/rear) and a lower height limit (25 ft) for ADUs rather than main‑dwelling standards, while asking staff to reconcile grandfathered exceptions. The commission also asked staff and public works to analyze utility capacity and the fiscal impact of charging or waiving impact fees for detached ADUs (staff estimated a typical impact fee would be about $15,000 if charged), then return with data.
Staff will prepare a formal draft ordinance consistent with state law and reflecting the commission’s direction (parking per state rule; owner‑occupancy requirement; suggested livable cap in the 1,200–1,300 sq ft range; footprint constrained by lot‑percentage rules; accessory‑structure setbacks and heights), then present that draft at a future meeting before transmitting it to the city council.
