Commissioners weigh accessory-dwelling limits and conditional-use permits in county zoning work study

County planning staff told commissioners at a work study on Aug. 19, 2025, that accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and conditional-use permits currently in the county's zoning code need clearer language and consistent application.

Todd, a planning staff member, said the county saw "more than we typically would" requests for accessory dwelling units larger than the 1,000-square-foot limit now in the regulations and that the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission recommended a 1,500-square-foot cap but that the change would not materially alter how many conditional-use requests the county receives.

P&Z member Miranda said she had identified about "a 105" ADUs approved across the county over the past 15 years and that nine separate requests sought sizes exceeding the current 1,000-square-foot limit, with more than half of those requests occurring in the last two years.

Commissioners and planning staff debated the intent behind ADU rules: whether rules should prioritize small in-law or caretaker spaces—often 400'600 square feet and attached or adjacent to primary residences—or allow larger free-standing homes that can effectively act as separate residences and raise subdivision and resale complications.

One commissioner said conditional use permits are sometimes used to "circumvent" zoning limits and raised concern that larger, freestanding ADUs could result in two near-equal residences on one lot that cannot be subdivided off later without legal and market complications.

Planning staff described two paths the commission could take: keep the thousand-square-foot cap, tighten definitions and clarify when attached versus detached living quarters are allowed; or change the cap (the P&Z draft suggested 1,500 square feet) while adding clearer conditions and expiration or transition language for some approvals. Staff noted the county routinely treats modular or factory-built homes as equivalent to stick-built homes for permitting; travel trailers and true short-term structures remain a separate regulatory question.

Commissioners instructed staff to continue drafting clearer wording for ADUs and conditional-use criteria and to return with proposals. No ordinance changes were adopted at the work study.

Ending: The commission asked planning staff to return with revised language and options (including keeping the 1,000-square-foot limit, lowering it, or adopting a newly defined larger cap with conditions) so commissioners can evaluate consistency, enforcement workload and long-term property impacts before any formal vote.