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Planning commission recommends ADU ordinance updates to council; lengthy SB 9 debate signals further policy work

Los Altos Hills Planning Commission · March 5, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Commission voted to recommend staff's ADU ordinance amendments to the City Council to conform with state ADU law, while commissioners engaged in an extended discussion about SB 9, incentives, and how to preserve front setback protections as higher‑capacity electrical service and ADU rules change.

The Los Altos Hills Planning Commission on March 5 voted to recommend a package of technical updates to the town’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance to the City Council, while reserving larger policy questions — such as objective design standards and how to align multifamily and SB 9 rules — for further study and public engagement.

Staff explained the recommended changes are primarily to bring the municipal code into compliance with state law. The draft ordinance clarifies definitions for primary dwelling units and livable‑space conversions, updates ADU allowances in a newly created multifamily zone, adjusts sprinkler and sewer‑connection rules for state‑exempt ADUs (detached conversions under 800 square feet and 16 feet in height), and formalizes timelines…

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