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Huachuca City Council opens discussion on allowing tiny homes and ADUs
Summary
Council members opened discussion on whether tiny homes should be classified and regulated as accessory dwelling units. Staff presenter Dr. Jim Johnson outlined draft rules including setbacks, single-ADU limits, access rules and utility requirements.
Mayor Johann Wallace moved and Councilmember Christy Hirshberg seconded a motion to open agenda item B.1 for discussion on allowing tiny homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) within Huachuca City limits. Dr. Jim Johnson presented the staff recap and possible standards for the council to consider.
Dr. Jim Johnson summarized draft ADU rules: "Only one ADU per single family lot. Can be either attached or detached. ADU’s must be accessed from main street (in front), not from the alley." He also identified setbacks as a point for council consideration — "Lowering side setbacks from 7’ to 5’ or 3’" — and outlined utility and design constraints: ADUs must be served by the same water, sewer and electric utility providers and meters as the primary house (no separate meters), may not be subdivided into separate ownership, must meet the primary house's property/building maintenance standards before approval, and are limited by the draft to no more than one bedroom and a separate entrance.
The presentation framed tiny homes as potentially classifiable as ADUs and highlighted specific code adjustments the council could pursue (setback reductions, access rules, meter and ownership restrictions, and design parity with the primary residence). The transcript does not record council members proposing ordinance language or taking a final vote on B.1 during this meeting; the motion was to open discussion and council may give direction to staff for action at subsequent meetings.
Next steps: the council's motion opened the topic for further consideration; staff were asked to continue refinement and return options for potential future council action. The minutes were later certified by the town clerk.
