County residents have testified to the Planning Commission, advocating for the proposed Accessory Living Unit (ALU) zoning ordinance amendment, all the while asking commissioners to do away with remaining restrictions in the name of more affordable housing options.
ALUs are essentially separate living areas or a home addition, interior or detached.
The amendment would eliminate the requirement for an additional off-street parking space for an ALU, increase ALU occupancy from two to three people, allow an ALU up to 1,200 sq. ft. (or 40% of the house), or an entire basement, allow detached ALUs by right on lots of 36,000 sq. ft. or more, by special permit on lots of 15,000–36,000 sq. ft., with an option to go smaller, offer the Board an option to allow ALUs in townhouses and duplexes, eliminate the separate zoning permit, leaving only a building permit, and remove the owner-occupancy requirement…