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Commission considers ADU and duplex changes to boost housing variety
Summary
Planners proposed allowing accessory dwelling units per dwelling unit (including townhomes), adjusting density rules in RM/RH to implement comp‑plan policy, and changing density counting for duplexes on corner lots to encourage duplex construction.
Nicole, the planning staff member, told the commission the ADU amendments aim to encourage more accessory units by allowing ADUs per unit and by clarifying that, for attached townhouse projects in RM or RH zones, ADUs could be created on a per‑unit basis. She explained the change is intended to correct previous wording that implied a per‑lot limit. “If someone does a townhouse project in the RM or RH zone, that they could also do ADUs in association with that,” she said.
Commissioners asked if preapproved ADU plans require code amendments; Nicole said preapproved plans were expected to be handled as a building‑permit streamlining (not a zoning change) because ADUs do not require land‑use review under current city rules. On density and duplexes, staff proposed counting an additional duplex unit on a corner lot in a way that does not increase the project’s density tally, effectively incentivizing duplex construction in residential zones.
