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Seneca council discusses allowing accessory buildings on vacant residential lots, asks staff for ordinance research
Summary
Councilors debated changing city code to allow accessory buildings on vacant residential lots without a dwelling, asking City Manager Burrell to research ordinance language and residency/lot-size conditions before any change.
Councilors discussed July 10 whether to allow accessory buildings on vacant residential lots that do not contain a dwelling. The change was raised by Councilor Melissa Pettyjohn as a response to multiple small vacant lots in town where owners lack space to build on their primary parcels.
"I wanted to bring the subject up because the city code states that you can't build an accessory building without either a dwelling or living quarters built in to it," Councilor Pettyjohn said, adding that nearby Mt. Vernon allows accessory structures on empty lots. Councilor Barbara Northington urged staff research and recommended giving council discretionary authority to approve exceptions; Mayor Brad Smith said he would oppose letting buyers purchase lots across town simply to place a shop there. City Manager Raamin Burrell cautioned that adjustments would require a narrowly worded ordinance to specify how and when exceptions could be made.
The council asked Burrell to return with research and draft language for potential ordinance changes, including minimum lot sizes and residency requirements.
