Menlo Park Planning Commission studies ADU ordinance update, hears sewer review warning from West Bay Sanitary District

Menlo Park 'City staff presented a draft update to the city's accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance at a Dec. 15 Planning Commission study session and sought feedback on how to bring local rules into compliance with state law while adding limited objective standards for ADUs that are not state-mandated.

The presentation by Associate Planner Matt Pruder laid out two broad ADU categories: state-mandated ADUs (including internal conversions and junior ADUs, detached ADUs up to 800 square feet and certain multifamily conversions) that receive ministerial review under state law, and non-state-mandated ADUs (for example, detached ADUs larger than 800 square feet and attached ADUs) that could be subject to locally adopted objective standards. Pruder said the draft is an initial proposal and that staff will revise it after Commission feedback and a required 60-day review by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

Why it matters: the city received a Dec. 5 letter from HCD noting potential inconsistencies with state law and Menlo Park's 2023'031 Housing Element (Program H4F) requires the ADU ordinance be in compliance. Commissioners said a clear, locally useful ordinance is important both to meet state requirements and to give residents practical guidance.

Key details and debate

Sewer and interagency coordination: Sergio Ramirez, general manager of West Bay Sanitary District,…