Planning commission recommends ADU expansions and a new transitional agricultural district

Planning staff presented two separate sets of zoning text amendments and the planning commission voted to recommend both to county council.

First, staff described an expanded accessory dwelling unit (ADU) framework with a three‑tier approach tied to lot size: an 850‑square‑foot cap for small lots, a 50%‑of‑primary‑dwelling option for medium lots, and a newly added third tier allowing ADUs up to 75% of the primary dwelling on lots of 1 acre or larger; dimensional standards were proposed to scale with those tiers and accessory structure allowances were increased in many districts from 65% to 85%. The commission approved a motion to recommend the ADU revisions for council consideration.

Second, staff proposed a new 'transitional agricultural' zoning district to host a conservation‑subdivision option. The conservation option would require a primary protected set‑aside plus a secondary protected set‑aside equal to 50% of the buildable acreage; in return applicants would receive dimensional flexibility including a reduced minimum lot size, adjustable lot width/frontage ratios and reduced setbacks. Staff also proposed stronger buffer and scenic‑corridor requirements, and design standards limiting man‑made water bodies within secondary protected areas to 30% of that acreage with 100‑year storm design standards. The commission voted to recommend the transitional agricultural text amendments.

Both recommendations are advisory and will be scheduled for county council hearings as ordinance amendments.