12-03-2025 Workshop Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Staff Report To: Mayor Fischer and Members of the Little Canada City Council From: Ben Harrington, AICP, Community Development Director Date: December 03, 2025 Re: WORKSHOP - PC 1445 - Accessory Structure Ordinance Updates (Ordinance Numbers TBD) Actions To Be Considered Following discussion, the City Council may: • Provide direction to staff on any desired amendments or clarifications. • Indicate whether the Council is comfortable with staff bringing the ordinances forward for formal consideration at the December 17 Council meeting. Background The City Council held a workshop on November 12, 2025, to review Ordinances 9XX–9XX. Staff believes broad consensus was reached on most components of the update. If questions remain regarding other changes to accessory structures and buildings, staff can address them as part of this discussion. The Council reached an impasse on performance standards for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), specifically whether owner occupancy should be required when either the principal home or the ADU is rented. Resolution of this issue is necessary to finalize the ordinance text. Staff are confident that either approach can be administered effectively. Key concerns expressed about allowing both the home and ADU to be rented included: • The potential for greater property use intensity with two tenant households instead of an owner and a tenant. • The possibility of non-local corporate ownership and property consolidation. • Potential neighborhood opposition based on perceived changes in character. The main advantages of allowing both units to be rented include: • Greater housing flexibility and ADU viability by maximizing use potential. • Simplified administration by removing the need to verify owner occupancy. • Consistency with existing nuisance and property maintenance standards that already govern tenant behavior. Staff have identified two main options for consideration 1. Leave the Ordinance as Drafted This option allows a property owner to rent both the primary home and the ADU. Staff does not anticipate widespread issues with corporate buyouts or nuisance violations compared to single-unit rentals, though this approach could generate additional neighborhood concerns and code-enforcement activity.