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Commission recommends tightening 'building attached' definition to prevent height/setback loopholes
Summary
Planners recommended a code text amendment to require a physical, enclosed connection (shared wall or floor/ceiling assembly) for structures to be treated as 'attached,' explicitly excluding open breezeways longer than 6 feet so accessory buildings cannot inherit main‑building setbacks and heights via minimal connections.
The Pleasant Grove Planning Commission on March 12 recommended the city council approve a revision to the city code definition of "building attached" to clarify when an accessory structure is treated as part of the primary building.
Staff explained the current definition — which deemed buildings separated by 6 feet or less to be "attached" whether physically connected or not — had allowed applicants to claim attachment in ways that let accessory buildings use main‑building setbacks and heights. The proposed change would require a structure to be "physically joined to another structure by a common wall or a floor/ceiling assembly to become one continuous structure," and would explicitly exclude open breezeways greater than six feet in length from counting as an attachment.
Planner Jacob Hawkins said the change is intended to prevent applicants from taking advantage of the current language to skirt accessory building height and setback limits by adding minimal covered connections. Commissioners raised questions about common features such as porte‑cocheres or garage units with upper‑level apartments; staff clarified that elements that are genuinely part of the primary building (fully enclosed and integrated) remain attached and can meet house setbacks, while open breezeways would not qualify and must meet accessory setbacks and height limits.
Commissioner Shirley moved (second Commissioner Ready) to recommend that the city council approve the proposed definition change and adopt staff findings and conditions; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff said the amendment is intended to make the code clearer and to reduce opportunities to exploit the existing definition to bypass accessory building rules.
Next steps: the recommendation will be forwarded to the city council; if council adopts the change, building permit reviewers will apply the clarified definition in future accessory‑building and setback determinations.
