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Commission reviews state‑driven ADU ordinance draft and debates where ADUs should be allowed
Summary
Staff presented an ADU draft based on state law (nine allowable regulatory items); commissioners discussed limits (setbacks, parking, owner‑occupancy, distance limits) and whether agriculture/conservation districts should also permit ADUs. The panel agreed to refine language and has time before the July 1, 2027 effective date.
Staff presented a draft accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance prepared to comply with recent state legislation. "There are only 9 items that we can require or that we can choose to impose limits on," Alan Nichols said while reading the statutory list, and he walked commissioners through items such as a 30‑day minimum lease term to prohibit short‑term rentals, unit size limitations, building‑code compliance, and a 500‑foot maximum separation for detached ADUs.
Commissioners debated whether to extend ADU allowances into agricultural (A1) and conservation (C1) districts. Members noted practical constraints — drain fields, lot size, and existing dwellings — and legal uncertainty under Dillon Rule if the county attempts to go beyond the code's residential‑district framing. The draft includes provisions requiring a zoning and building permit, at least one additional off‑street parking space for the ADU, and a prohibition on short‑term rentals of less than 30 days. Staff said the ordinance need not be in place until July 1, 2027, giving time for additional workshops and edits before advertising for the joint meeting if the commission so directs.
Next steps: staff will circulate clarified language (including quoting the exact state code rental‑term language) and commissioners agreed they may ask for an additional workshop before committing to advertising the ordinance for the joint hearing.
