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Home My WebLink AboutADU Policy - BLD Letters / Memos - 9/25/1996 MEMORANDUM e DATE: September 25, 1996 TO: DEPARTMENT OF DCD - &LANNING IVISION L FROM: DIRECTOR OF DCD RE: POLICY REGARDING ACCESSORY ELLING UNI S In our staff meetings one of the issues that has been discussed relates to Accessory Dwelling Units . There is apparently some confusion over when such units are allowed and what. restrictions and standards must be met . In particular, there is a question on whether they need to comply with the standard density requirements of the performance districts in which they are located. DISCUSSION: The April 1996 Draft Comprehensive Plan provides for Accessory Dwelling Units. (ADU) in its definitions (page V) , in the residential planning policies for the Southeast Mason County Sub- Area (Policy A10, page III-3 .23) , and in the Housing Element • (Policy H-109, page III-8 . 1) . The Development Regulations, Ordinance #82-96 also addresses ADU' s and Accessory buildings or use in the definition section 1 . 06 (page 44) and in the Matrix of Permitted Uses, Figure 1 . 03 . 020 (page 13) . The Shoreline Master Program has the same concept defined as "Accessory Living Quarters" in Section 7 . 08 (page 3) and Section 7 . 1 . 080 (pages 52 & 53) . RCW 36 . 70A.400 (the Act) has specific requirements for how accessory apartments be treated in the plan and subsequent regulations . The intent is : "The installation of an ADU in new and existing single-family dwellings (hereinafter principal units) shall be allowed in single-family zones sub ect to specific development, design, and owner-occupancystandards . " The state goals implemented by this provision are to reduce the cost of housing and to improve the housing stock for all income levels . The purpose, in part, is to allow increased density where there is the capacity for the additional development . The planning policy in the plan is also directed at supporting family values . The concept of the accessory dwelling unit as specifically envisioned by the state recommendations, the sub-a ea plan and the shorelines master program is to allow the accecosory dwelling unit in addition to the density specified for the principal units . In each of these, residence by the owner i quix_ei and • the ADU may be temporary (especially in that d-seof the property is limited to that specified) . The comprehensive plan and • development regulation provisions that apply elsewhere define the ADU as accessory to the principal residence . POLICY The following Policy will be followed as it relates to Accessory Dwelling Units : * As an "accessory apartment or use, " the accessory dwelling unit is allowed in all districts in the development regulations . * In the Totten-Little Skookum watershed and in Shoreline Master Program jurisdictions, special restrictions apply as detailed in the respective sections . * The use is an accessory use. This means that there is a principle residence in which the property owner lives (whether part-time or permanently) and the second dwelling is subordinate and accessory to that . The accessory dwelling unit may be restricted to a temporary use and temporary structure to ensure that it complies with this requirement . It is clearly not intended that the two units can-be incCependently rented out by a non-resident property owner. • * The accessory dwelling unit is not the same as a second single family dwelling on one parcel or lot . The placement of a second dwelling is allowed in the development regulations if the lot meets the density provisions and other requirements for this type of use and structure. For example, in the Rural Area a second dwelling could be built or installed if the 10 acres per 2 dwelling unit density requirement is-met . * The accessory dwelling unit is not related to land division and should create no , expectation that in the future the land can be divided to create separate lots for the two dwelling units . Future Review: It is expected that in the future amendment process, this issue will be revisited to see if it is appropriate to establish specific standards and restrictions throughout the county for accessory dwelling units similar to those in existe ce in the sub-area plan and shorelines program. • (access)