Planning Commission continues ADU/code amendment discussion; staff to circulate draft ahead of August meetings

Planning commissioners used the July work session portion of the meeting to continue detailed discussion of proposed code amendments addressing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and accessory structure sizing.

Commissioners and staff debated where to draw the line between accessory structures and livable ADUs, how to count footprint versus total square footage (basement and floor area), and whether to allow multiple detached ADUs on a lot. One commissioner summarized the tension between the commission and council approach: "Because what we're attempting to do is thread the needle between everybody... Council has a more conservative approach to this. You, I think, are a little bit more, liberal and wanting to allow these and allow a lot more than what the council want." Staff cautioned that state law restricts some design regulation; as one planner said, "it's state law where they say, well, you cannot regulate any of these design elements as they're stipulated in the state law."

Commissioners asked staff to provide a consolidated draft that threads discretionary design options, suggested numerical thresholds (examples discussed included 600–750 sq ft footprints and a 650 sq ft threshold referenced in mapping), and a clear summary of where state law limits local design controls. City staff and commissioners agreed to review the draft in a subsequent work session and to prepare materials in time for August planning commission packets; staff noted a near‑term external deadline tied to statewide code changes and the October 1 implementation window.

The commission and staff discussed process and timing: staff committed to circulate a recommendation and background materials ahead of the next meeting and warned that adopting any local approach will require a majority vote of the commission before it can be forwarded to the city council.