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Planning commission backs narrow change to allow senior ADUs on large‑lot homes
Summary
The Royal Oak Planning Commission recommended a text amendment to exempt senior accessory dwelling units (SADUs) — typically up to 600 sq ft — from the city's 3,500 sq ft single‑family usable‑floor‑area cap in large‑lot residential districts, saying it will enable aging relatives to live with family without needing a variance.
The Royal Oak Planning Commission on April 14 recommended that the City Commission approve a narrowly drawn zoning text amendment that would exempt senior accessory dwelling units (SADUs) from the 3,500 square‑foot maximum usable floor area that applies to single‑family homes in the large‑lot zoning district.
Petitioner George Blower told the commission he cannot bring his mother home because his house already measures more than the 3,500 sq ft cap and the code currently counts a SADU's roughly 600 sq ft against that cap. "By law, I cannot use that square footage for myself," Blower said. He described his SADU request as a caregiving accommodation for his mother, who is living with Alzheimer's and needs accessible space.
Joseph Murphy, the city's director of planning, summarized staff's view that the proposal is narrowly tailored to the large‑lot single‑family district and would not change other ordinance requirements: SADUs would still need to meet special‑land‑use standards, registration and reporting requirements, and other area and bulk regulations. Murphy also noted the change responds to an implementation conflict between the city's 2025 master plan goals on aging‑in‑place and the current floor‑area measurement in the zoning code (section 77030 was cited during the hearing).
Supporters in public comment said the change corrects an oversight and will help families care for aging relatives sooner than waiting for a multi‑year zoning rewrite. Opponents and nearby property owners questioned whether the amendment should wait for the comprehensive zoning update and raised concerns about unintended wider changes for large lots.
After extended discussion about how often variances had been granted in large‑lot areas, whether detached SADUs are permitted, utility and parking implications, and the risk of spot‑zoning, a commissioner moved to recommend approval and the motion was seconded. The commission approved the recommendation by voice vote and will forward it to the City Commission for final action.
What happens next: The City Commission will consider the Planning Commission's recommendation; if adopted, the amendment would allow homeowners on qualifying large lots to add registered SADUs without counting that unit toward the single‑family usable floor‑area cap. The change preserves the special‑land‑use review so the planning commission and staff retain design and location controls.
