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Staff frames draft detached‑ADU ordinance to meet state mandate; council zeroes in on setbacks and height
Summary
City staff presented a draft ordinance to comply with state law requiring allowance of detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) on qualifying lots. The draft sets a minimum lot size of 11,000 sq ft, tiered maximum ADU sizes, parking and setback rules, and proposes a 10‑ft setback from the primary dwelling (commission had discussed 6 ft); council asked staff to return with graded‑height and setback options and utility/grading language.
Planning staff explained the three parts of the draft: a purpose/definitions section, a transfer of existing attached‑ADU regulations, and a new detached‑ADU section that would allow DADUs on lots at least 11,000 sq ft and cap detached units by lot size (examples: up to 850 sq ft on the smallest qualifying tier, up to 1,000 or 1,200 sq ft for larger lots). "You only get them on residential properties and they're subject to the restrictions of this section," the presenter said as he read the draft’s introductory language. Staff emphasized that ADUs must meet building, health and fire codes (so RVs could not be used as permanent dwellings) and that permits and rental‑dwelling licensing would still be required.
A large part of the council discussion focused on setbacks, height, and neighbor impacts: staff proposed a 10‑ft separation from the primary dwelling and 25 ft from streets but noted the commission had discussed a 6‑ft separation for accessory structures. Several council members urged a graded approach — e.g., greater allowed height as distance from property lines increases — and asked staff to test policy language and sample lots for how those rules would play out. Staff agreed to return with worked examples, graded‑height options, and language on utilities and grading constraints before the final ordinance.
