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Planning Commission forwards revised ADU ordinance to City Council
Summary
The Harris Planning Commission voted to send an updated accessory dwelling unit ordinance to the City Council after narrowing the ADU size definition and adding a tiny-home provision; the measure now moves to Council for consideration.
The Harris Planning Commission voted Jan. 27 to forward an updated accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance to the City Council for consideration and approval.
City Planner Claire Stickler and commissioners revised the ordinance during the meeting, including changing the ADU size language from a maximum of 750 square feet to a minimum of 400 square feet, adding a provision to allow a tiny home "on a permanent foundation" under subsection (D)(8), and aligning a cross-reference so that section 154.34 uses the 400-square-foot figure. Stickler reviewed the proposed edits for the commission before the vote.
Commissioner Shari Denny moved to forward the updated ADU ordinance to the Council; Commissioner Neil Elmquist seconded, and the motion carried with all members present voting in favor.
The measure will next appear on a future City Council agenda for consideration; the commission did not set a Council hearing date during the meeting. If approved by the Council, the ordinance would change the town's dimensional standards and definitions for accessory dwelling units and tiny homes as described by the revisited text.
Supporters during the planning commission's public meeting said ADUs could help families remain close: Ericka Esada spoke in favor, saying her family recently moved to Harris and that an ADU would allow a son with a brain injury to live nearby. The commission closed the ADU public meeting at 7:10 p.m.
The commission's vote was a forwarding recommendation only; final enactment requires City Council action.
