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Commission considers codifying 12-foot rule to prevent distant additions being treated as attached
Summary
Staff proposed clarifying that accessory buildings more than 12 feet from the main dwelling are 'detached' after a past dispute; commissioners considered Highland City's stricter attachment test and asked staff to weigh pros and cons before finalizing language.
Staff told the commission a recurring problem has arisen when property owners try to claim distant additions (connected by breezeways or underground links) as attached parts of the main dwelling to gain height or setback advantages.
Caden explained the proposal: accessory buildings that are more than 12 feet from the main dwelling—even if connected by a small structure—would be treated as detached. That would simplify enforcement and prevent owners from circumventing setback and height rules through long, minimal connections.
Commissioners discussed alternatives, including Highland City's approach (requiring a majority of the new building’s length that faces the main dwelling to be attached), but flagged the potential for the Highland rule to be unworkable on irregular lot shapes. Several commissioners said the staff's 12-foot test better aligns with existing code language and is clearer to enforce.
Staff will refine the proposed text and consider whether the Highland model or the simpler 12-foot codification better fits Alpine's lot patterns and development goals before bringing a final draft to the council.
