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Planning commission postpones ADU hearing pending engineer and public-works review
Summary
River Heights planning commissioners agreed June 23 to delay the public hearing on a proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance until they receive technical comments from the city engineer and public works director, citing outstanding questions about impact fees and utility billing for detached ADUs.
The River Heights Planning Commission agreed on June 23 to postpone the public hearing on a proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance until the city engineer and public works director review technical impacts, including possible impact fees and utility-billing procedures.
Vice Chairman Noel Cooley said he had reviewed the City Attorney's suggested insertions and "felt they had covered everything the Commission had talked about," but recommended asking Engineer Rasmussen and Public Works Director Nelson for technical comments before scheduling a hearing. Recorder Sheila Lind said she would forward the draft ordinance and "request their comments back by one week," allowing the commission to set a hearing date at its next meeting if responses are timely.
Commissioner Anna Lisa Davidson raised specific questions about impact fees for detached ADUs and monthly utility charges, noting she did not find clear guidance in the city's code. Commissioners agreed an external (detached) ADU could affect municipal systems and that impact fees may be appropriate, though connection/inspection fees might not apply if no new street connections are required. Cooley suggested that impact-fee policy could be handled separately from the ADU ordinance, potentially by the City Council.
No public comments were offered during the allotted public-comment period. The commission's decision to delay the hearing was procedural rather than a vote on the ordinance's substance: no formal motion to adopt the ordinance was made at the meeting. The Commission will revisit the ADU ordinance after receiving the requested engineering and public-works feedback; a public hearing is expected to be scheduled once those reviews are complete.
