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City offers draft ADU rules aimed at equity; council hears mixed feedback
Summary
Staff proposed draft accessory‑dwelling‑unit regulations allowing up to two ADUs per lot (one detached), sizes of 200–1,000 sq ft (or up to 75% of home), and a 22‑foot height cap; the council and public raised questions about parking, costs, HOAs and pilot timing.
Senior planner Kara Donovan presented draft accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations and the results of geospatial and focus‑group work examining equity and feasibility. Donovan said staff’s draft would allow up to two ADUs per lot (one detached maximum), set size limits at 200–1,000 square feet or up to 75% of the principal home’s size, require 5‑foot side and 10‑foot rear setbacks, and cap ADU height at 22 feet.
Donovan said the city’s GIS and parcel analysis showed lot coverage and parcel sizes would not exclude broad swaths of the city from eligibility and that staff examined neighboring cities’ rules in developing the draft. Focus‑group participants and table reports flagged cost as the primary barrier and urged exploring prefabricated or modular options. Staff also proposed that if a parcel has sufficient on‑street parking, an additional off‑street stall would not be required; otherwise one off‑street stall would be required for the ADU.
Table reports reflected divided views about allowing two ADUs per lot versus piloting a single ADU per parcel; several tables urged strong design guidance and enforcement to prevent poorly built conversions or uses that undermine neighborhood character. Council members asked staff to ensure rental licensing, address and utility logistics are resolved and to coordinate with housing and finance partners to reduce barriers to construction. Staff said the item will return through the planning‑commission process and then to council for adoption.
