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Rolling Meadows commission recommends ADU text amendment, making accessory dwelling units a special use
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Commission voted 6–0 to recommend that the City Council authorize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a special use across ADU types in single-family zoning districts, adopt four threshold review questions, and include explicit building-permit and architectural-drawing requirements in the ordinance text.
The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended on June 22, 2026 that the City Council adopt a zoning text amendment authorizing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a special use in single-family residential districts. The matter had been continued from the Commission’s June 2 meeting.
Staff presented a revised draft that applies the special-use process to all ADU types, charges a $175 fee, and organizes review around four threshold questions: distance to neighboring dwellings, privacy, minimized visual impact, and whether the ADU remains clearly accessory and subordinate to the principal dwelling. Staff said the draft preserves the standard special-use criteria but establishes a presumption that those criteria are satisfied once the four threshold questions are met.
Commissioners discussed setbacks, entrances, occupancy, parking, and submission requirements for applicants. The Commission confirmed direction urging that the ordinance explicitly reference building-permit and architect-prepared-plan requirements so the special-use review would be meaningful and supported by building-code documentation.
On a motion by Commissioner Gercken, seconded by Commissioner Ferstein, the Commission voted 6–0 to recommend the ADU text amendment as revised and to forward the ordinance to City Council.
