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Shorewood board adopts zoning changes to allow basement bedrooms, expand household definition and permit ADUs
Summary
After public hearings, the village adopted three zoning ordinances to remove the ban on basement bedrooms, increase the number of unrelated adults allowed per household from three to four, and permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) with design standards; all three ordinances passed on roll-call votes, 5-0.
The Village Board adopted a package of zoning changes on May 4 that the Plan Commission recommended to expand housing options in Shorewood. The three ordinances address basement bedrooms, the legal definition of a household and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
What the board approved
- Ordinance 3084 (bedrooms in basements): The village eliminated an existing code prohibition that prevented basement spaces in R districts from being used as sleeping areas. Staff said life-safety requirements (egress windows, light and ventilation) will continue to be enforced under the building code; 69% of respondents to the Plan Commission’s online survey supported removal of the prohibition. The board adopted the ordinance 5-0 by roll call.
- Ordinance 3085 (household definition): The village clarified and modernized the term “household,” adding explicit categories (individual; related adults by blood/adoption/marriage/civil union/domestic partnership; or up to four unrelated adults). The change increases the cap on unrelated adults from three to four. Plan Commission materials cited equity and consistency reasons; public survey responses were split (about 48% favored keeping three; 38% favored four). The ordinance passed on a 5-0 roll call vote.
- Ordinance 3087 (accessory dwelling units): The board authorized one ADU per lot (internal, attached or detached) in R1–R6 zoning districts, with design-review oversight, owner-occupancy required at the time of permitting, limits on detached-unit height (not to exceed the principal building or a 20-ft cap in the draft language), and a prohibition on short-term rentals fewer than seven days. The Plan Commission recommended no new parking requirement for ADUs; staff said lot-coverage, setback and design-review standards remain in place. The ordinance passed 5-0 by roll call.
Public input and staff notes: During the ADU hearing, residents raised questions about unit cost, privacy (fencing), minimum unit sizes, condo conversion possibilities and whether detached units should require separate utility laterals. Staff noted Shorewood’s small lot sizes and existing zoning (setbacks, lot coverage) will naturally limit detached-ADU construction and that other nearby municipalities that have allowed ADUs saw modest take-up rates. Trustees asked staff to consider fence-code implications and to provide guidance on utility connections and condoization options when applicants apply.
Votes at a glance
- Ord. 3084 (eliminate basement-bedroom prohibition): Adopted 5-0. - Ord. 3085 (update household definition, increase unrelated adults to four): Adopted 5-0. - Ord. 3087 (permit ADUs in R1–R6 with standards): Adopted 5-0.
Why this matters: Trustees said the changes are intended to increase housing choices (multigenerational living, smaller independent units, and rental options) while relying on the building code and design-review process to protect safety and neighborhood character. Staff will publish guidance on permitting requirements, egress standards and design-review expectations for residents and contractors.
What’s next: Staff will draft implementation materials (permit checklists, guidance on owner-occupancy verification at permitting and information on parking/fence rules) and return with clarifications if code cross-references (for example, on fences or utility laterals) require adjustment.
