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The Mounds View Vision A Thriving Desirable Community Item No: 05A Meeting Date: June 21, 2023 Type of Business Planning Case Planning Case City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Planning Commission From: Jon Sevald, Community Development Director Item Title/Subject: Resolution 1161-23, Recommending Approval of Ordinance, 1004, Amending Mounds View City Code 160.088 related to Accessory Dwelling Units Introduction: During the May 17, 2023 Planning Commission meeting, the Commission briefly discussed Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), directing Staff to conduct further research, and prepare an Ordinance Amendment to allow Detached ADU’s with a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Discussion: An Accessory Dwelling Unit is A dwelling unit that is located on the same lot as a single-family dwelling to which it is accessory to, and is internal or an addition onto the principal dwelling.1 In 2016, the City Code was amended to allow Internal ADU’s as a permitted use, and to allow ADU’s attached to a home as a Conditional Use (CUP) in Residential zones. The City Council’s consensus was not to allow Detached ADU’s. The assumption was that, although a detached ADU may be intended to be occupied by an aging parent, once no longer occupied by that person, the ADU was likely to become a rental unit, which the City Council did not desire. In 2016, there was considerable discussion2 regarding homesteading vs. rental, separate utilities vs shared utilities, parking, building height, and architectural similarities between home and ADU. The general intent was to allow ADU’s as an option for residents to age in place, but to discourage homes and ADU’s from both becoming rental properties, thereby creating a duplex-type use in a single-family zoning district. In practice, there has been interest from homeowners in ADU’s for family members. These discussions have steered more towards home additions, in which the addition includes a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living area, and its occupant has full access throughout the original home, and vice-versa (e.g. it is not an independent unit). Staff’s interpretation is that this is a home addition, not an ADU. The deciding factor is that the home is occupied by one family3, and cannot become a rental unit by itself. The 2016 amendment was requested by a Planning Commission member who was interested in a detached ADU above a detached garage (not permitted). In discussions, this proved to be 1 City Code §160.012 (Definitions; Dwelling Unit, Accessory) 2 Previous discussions: Planning Commission; June 1, 2016; July 6, 2016; July 20, 2016. City Council; May 9, 2016; August 1, 2016; August 8, 2016; August 22, 2016. 3 City Code §160.012 (Definitions); FAMILY. One or more persons, each related to the other by blood, marriage or adoption, or a group of not more than four persons not all so related, together with their domestic servants or gratuitous guests, maintaining a common household and using common cooking and kitchen facilities.