Transcript Accessory Dwelling Units Regulation Update Board of County Commissioners Hearing November 18, 2014

Accessory Dwelling Units
Regulation Update
Board of County Commissioners Hearing
November 18, 2014
What is an ADU?
Second unit, accessory to main house
 Attached or detached

What are the current
regulations?
1 acre
 1200 square feet or 40%
 Attached or detached
 Family member only
 Water and Sanitation
 Board of Adjustment hearing

Why are we updating?
Initiated by Aging Well in Jefferson
County
 60+ Population will double by 2030
 Increases housing options

Benefits to Seniors





Move in with or near family (Important!)
House a caretaker
Remain on their property and rent out
home to supplement fixed income
Convenience (transportation, doctors,
groceries, churches)
Delay institutional living (costly to society)
Community Benefits
Maximizes Existing Infrastructure
 Increases Rental Options and Overall Housing
Supply
 Solution for Housing Needs for Seniors

Recommendations from Aging
Well
Remove minimum lot size requirements
 Remove family member only restriction
 Limit occupancy to 3 people
 Require owner occupancy

Recommendations from Aging
Well
Allow an administrative process
 Include design and visitability
 Require on-site parking
 Do not require limits on ADU’s per
neighborhood

Research
1 unit per year per 1000 single-family
households
 1.2 persons per unit
 Affects on property value: Depends
 Arvada (2007), Golden (2010), Lakewood
(2013)

Proposed Changes
Lot and Unit size
 Occupancy
 Process

Lot and Unit Size
Reduces lot size for Attached units
 Reduces both lot and unit size for
detached units

Lot and Unit Size
Attached Unit
Detached Unit
Minimum Lot
Size
Minimum lot size 1 acre
of underlying
zone district
12,500 sf
7,500 sf*
Maximum Unit
Size2
1200 sf or 40%
of primary unit1
800 sf or 40%
of primary
unit1
600 sf or 40%
of primary
unit1
1Whichever
1200 sf or 40%
of primary
unit1
is less
Limitations on the size of the accessory dwelling unit shall be in conformance with the
accessory uses section.
* Detached accessory dwelling units are not permitted on lots less than 7,500 sf.
2
Occupancy
Owner-occupied
 Properties better
maintained if
owner lives there

Process
Administrative
 Notification
 Lot and Building
standards

Design
Privacy
 Architecture
 Height
 Entrance

Other Minor Changes
Parking
 Subdivision
 Water and
Sanitation
 Access

Public Outreach
Referrals
 Two Public
Meetings
 HOA meetings

Outstanding comments
Hearing process
 Administrative relief of standards
 Enforcement of standards
 Meadows

Recent Changes
Replace Principal with Primary
 D.1. – Remove “clearly” and identify units
 D.2. – Clarify “another single residence”
 D.2. – Make “accessory dwelling unit”
singular in last two sentences
 D.2.b.(1) – Clarify residency
 D.2.b(1) – remove “the”
 D.2.b.(2) – Clarify total square feet

Recent Changes
Table 1 – Add asterisk and superscript
 Table 1 – Clarify accessory use size
 D.2.b.(3) – Spell out three
 D.2.b.(4) – Change “has been” to “was
previously”
 D.2.b.(9) – Remove “or more”
 D.2.C.(1) – Clarify when staff uses criteria
 Modify Accessory Dwelling Unit
Definition
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Recommendation

Staff recommends that the Board of County
Commissioners APPROVE these regulation
revisions