Planning commission sends revised ADU code amendments to council, seeks staff clarifications

The Sandy City Planning Commission unanimously moved to forward a package of municipal code amendments to the City Council that would allow detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) consistent with state law (SB 84) but with several commission-driven modifications.

Melissa Anderson presented the proposed ordinance and noted the new state law requires cities to allow detached ADUs on lots at least 11,000 square feet. The staff draft followed that standard and included definitions distinguishing “ADU” (rented, self-contained living unit) from “extended living area” (ELAs) intended for family use. The staff recommendation also included special-use permit procedures, objective standards, owner-occupancy affidavits, and limits on rentals (one rental per lot), as well as size, height and setback standards and a parking table tied to ADU square footage and transit proximity.

Commissioners negotiated several substantive changes and clarifications before moving the recommendation. Key changes include directing staff to recommend lowering the minimum detached-ADU lot size to 10,000 square feet (with further reduction to be examined in the future), allowing corner lots to orient an attached ADU/ELA entry to the additional street, permitting an addition to be connected to the primary dwelling via a common wall, breezeway, or non-habitable connector (staff to define minimum standards to avoid “rinky-dink” bypasses), and correcting a lighting sentence to require downward, dark-sky-compliant fixtures. The commission also instructed staff to craft a clear path for converting existing accessory structures that encroach into setbacks — for example, requiring the portion inside the setback be used for non-habitable storage while the remainder could be converted to habitable ADU space subject to building code and single-story limits where needed.

Speakers during the public hearing urged the commission to reduce barriers for homeowners who want to build ADUs to address housing affordability, to offer floor plans and assistance, and to remove parking minimums near transit stations. Todd Vanderlinden urged a realistic conversion path for legal accessory structures that currently fail setback or height rules; Dr. Wendy Davis emphasized affordability concerns and urged reducing bureaucratic red tape.

The commission voted to forward the revised recommendations and asked staff to translate the commission’s findings and clarifying language into the ordinance before it goes to council. The recommendation now proceeds to the City Council for final action.