Chevy Chase council adopts ADU setback changes and amends front-yard hedge rule; several grants and a variance also approved

The Town Council of Chevy Chase voted to adopt an ordinance to align the town’s accessory-dwelling-unit (ADU) setbacks with a 2025 state law and also approved an amendment to how front-yard hedge height is measured.

Town Attorney Ron Bolt told the council the new state law requires local jurisdictions to treat ADUs the same as other accessory buildings for setback purposes. The council’s ordinance removes the stricter setback previously applied to detached ADUs and relies on an existing setback modifier to prevent oversized structures from looming over neighbors. Bolt said the town must adopt the change by Oct. 2026 and that the ordinance will take effect on 08/07/2026.

At the same meeting the council adopted a technical amendment to the front-yard hedge rule. The ordinance changes the measurement point for hedge height so that height is measured from the adjacent ground, the nearest public sidewalk, curb or edge of the street when those are higher than the yard itself; the change is intended to avoid overly restrictive results where a yard sits below street grade.

The council also handled several related items on the consent-and-action portion of the agenda. A variance application for 7011 Hillcrest Place (a 100-square-foot FAR variance to permit a second-story addition and screened rear porch) was approved after the applicant, Mary Love, presented the project and a neighboring resident, Brian Steele of 4104 Sycamore Street, spoke in support. Ron Bolt said he will prepare a written decision for council approval and that the variance decision must be issued before a building permit can be granted.

Separately, the council approved a supplemental appropriation framework for Rosemary Hills Elementary School’s outdoor-classroom project: the town moved to appropriate $10,000 immediately and an additional $10,000 upon town-manager verification of a $10,000 nongovernmental match, with the council explicitly permitting PTA donations to count toward that match. Town Manager Todd confirmed the PTA is a 501(c)(3) nongovernmental source, making those donations eligible for the town match.

The council discussed procedural items and next steps where applicable: Bolt noted that ADU ordinance adoption completes the local implementation step required by the state law, and he will circulate the finalized ordinance and effective date details to the council. For the variance, Bolt will draft the decision and notify the applicant when the permit may be requested. For the PTA grant, the town manager will confirm matching funds before the second $10,000 is released.

Votes at a glance: The council approved the ADU ordinance, adopted the front-yard hedge amendment, approved the FAR variance for 7011 Hillcrest Place, and approved the appropriation and conditional match approach for the Rosemary Hills PTA outdoor-classroom project. Detailed written decisions and appropriation paperwork will follow the procedural steps described by the town attorney and manager.