Central council bans detached ADUs, requires owner-occupancy for attached units pending workshop

The City Council of the City of Central voted May 26 to accept a staff-drafted amendment to the city's Unified Development Code that bans detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and adds an owner-occupancy requirement for attached ADUs, while directing staff to hold a workshop to refine size, parking and architectural standards.

Council member Meyer made the motion to adopt the staff-prepared ordinance with the two changes; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote recorded as six yes, zero no and one absent. Council members framed the action as a temporary measure to stop unregulated construction while the council develops enforceable performance standards.

Supporters said the change addresses examples they described where developers exploited the current rules by building multiple dwelling units on a single parcel. "I don't want to outlaw them, but I do want to see the size requirements put in that's in the ordinance," a council member said during debate, urging clear limits and standards. Another council member said owner-occupancy tests and utility hookup requirements could make enforcement practical: "Any ADU has to have its electricity fed from the main dwelling... that puts more on us on the occupation of the original house," the speaker said.

Opponents and some members cautioned that a blanket prohibition on detached ADUs could remove a housing option used by families for aging relatives or caregivers. Several council members recommended permitting attached ADUs with performance and architectural standards and limiting detached ADUs until the council completes a workshop.

City staff and the planning and zoning commission recommended prohibiting detached ADUs; council accepted that recommendation but amended the ordinance to add the owner-occupancy condition for attached units and to commit to a future workshop. The council directed staff to prepare the ordinance language that removes the detached-ADU subsection and adds an owner-occupancy subsection for attached ADUs.

The action is temporary: council members said the measure will be revisited after a workshop to address enforcement, size limits (members suggested a 50 percent maximum size relative to the primary structure), parking, utility connections and permitting processes. The ordinance affects R1, R2 and R3 zoning categories and does not change RA/R1 exemptions as drafted; staff said the rules will be clarified in follow-up work.

Next steps: the council scheduled a workshop and asked staff to draft clean ordinance language reflecting the council's direction. The ordinance was adopted at the meeting and remains subject to further revision following the workshop and any formal amendments.