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Planning commission forwards broad UDO amendments to commissioners to expand accessory dwellings and lower minimum house size
Summary
Noble County staff presented proposed amendments to Articles 2, 5, 7 and 9 of the Unified Development Ordinance to permit certain accessory dwellings, lower minimum dwelling size in some districts from 1,200 to 1,000 sq ft, and allow multiunit housing in specified areas; the commission voted unanimously to send the package to the county commissioners.
The Noble County Planning Commission voted June 17 to forward a package of proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to the county commissioners for consideration. Staff told the commission the changes clarify accessory-dwelling regulations, adjust minimum dwelling sizes, and create development-plan and design-standard updates.
Key elements in staff’s proposal include reclassifying some accessory dwellings from special-exception to permitted uses (in certain tract sizes), clarifying attachment requirements for accessory-dwelling units, defining accessory-structure size limits for accessory dwellings (roughly 550–1,200 square feet), and requiring a shared driveway to serve both the primary dwelling and the accessory unit except on large agricultural tracts. Staff also recommended lowering minimum dwelling size in multiple districts from 1,200 to 1,000 square feet and allowing duplexes, triplexes and townhouses in village-mix districts where sanitary sewer is available; staff noted health-department oversight on septic versus sewer connections.
Commission members discussed likely effects on variance applications, modular and manufactured housing compatibility, and how the county will implement address assignments (the county intends to add an 'A' suffix for accessory-unit addresses in coordination with USPS and E911). Several commissioners emphasized consistent language about when properties must connect to sanitary sewer and suggested refining feasibility criteria before final adoption.
After discussion, a commissioner moved and the panel voted unanimously to send the proposed UDO amendments to the county commissioners along with the commission’s favorable findings on comprehensive-plan consistency and other statutory criteria.
