2023.10.10 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

this challenge (by either renting out the ADU, or by living in the ADU and renting out the primary property). Likewise, an ADU option can provide avenues for seniors to age in place. While they may own their home outright, a lack of income during retirement coupled with maintenance and medical costs results in many seniors exploring options to leave their life-long homes. An ADU option provides an income stream, as well as an opportunity to downsize on-site. ADUs provide a climate-friendly housing option. ADUs provide housing without creating new lots, and their size makes them energy efficient. ADUs provide options for multi- generational housing which is a highly-valued option for many cultures. He commented further on the community engagement that would occur throughout the drafting of this Ordinance. Councilmember Axberg asked why it would take so long to draft the ADU Ordinance. Mr. Davis stated this was due to the amount of public engagement that would take place through this process. Councilmember Axberg questioned what the pitfalls were that other cities have seen when going through this process. Ms. Faulkner stated the City would want to make sure there are options for size and the Council should consider ADUs were attached or detached. Mr. Davis commented once the City comes up with general direction for the size and look for ADUs the Council with have to work with the public to ensure they understand ADUs would be an accessory use to the primary use. Ms. Faulkner also encouraged the Council to consider the process that residents would have to go through in order to have an ADU, whether this includes a permit or license. Councilmember Axberg stated the Council should consider its priorities when it comes to ADUs, what success looks like and what the unintended consequences of ADUs could be. Councilmember Abdulle agreed the City should consider what success looks like. He believed success would look like providing more access to home ownership and that some members of the community have been excluded from home ownership, historically. He indicated ADUs may provide an opportunity to do something about this while also provide more affordable housing options in the community. Councilmember Axberg anticipated not all ADUs would lead to home ownership. Ms. Faulkner commented further on how ADUs could increase opportunities for diversity, equity, home ownership, rental/owner occupied, and more affordable rental options. She reported the City would not see a flood of ADUs but rather there would be an incremental number of ADUs throughout the community. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas stated the Council should recognize the City currently has ADUs and they are not regulated as such. She reported servants quarters were allowed for certain sized properties. She wanted to see the Council aligning on the process that would be followed for ADUs, along with the specifics for ADUs. She appreciated the fact the Council was considering what success looked like and asked that the Council bring to staff how this looks from their point of view, noting she would like some alignment when it comes to this before the Council seeks input from the public. She stated she did not want private equity firms coming in and buying up properties in order to add ADUs because this would lead to more absent landlords. She suggested one of the ADU requirements ensure that property owners live onsite. Ms. Faulkner stated language could be written into the ADU Ordinance to address this concern. Councilmember Abdulle stated he wanted to ensure possible homeownership was considered within the ADU Ordinance. He supported the City going to the public with a community survey prior to coming forward with a preliminary Ordinance. Ms. Faulkner stated she could begin with an open-ended survey that was very broad and the information gathered from this could help craft the draft ADU Ordinance.