Forwarded from Woodland Hills City <noreply@everbridge.net> Subject: WH Transparency Committee ADU Report- This should have been attached to the last notice. Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2022 19:33:13 +0000 (UTC) ADU Report- This should have been attached to the last notice. Please excuse the number of notices today. This report on the ADU ordinance was supposed to be attached and it was not. Please click the link to read the report. https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:6d06eac5-e1... Community of Woodland Hills City Report Prepared by the Woodland Hills Transparency Committee February 3, 2022 NOTE: Opinions and information published by the Transparency Committee are not official City positions. They represent the perspective of the Transparency Committee, and of the person(s) quoted or interviewed. While we strive to publish the most accurate information possible, plans and decisions can change quickly as new information is acted upon by City officials. Accordingly, the following information is accurate as of the date of publication, but beyond that time some details may become outdated. We have a new ordinance regulating basement apartments. How does it work? What is the ordinance? The ordinance was approved on Tuesday, January 25. It creates a new chapter in the city code to regulate accessory dwelling units, or ADU's. What is an "ADU?" An ADU is any area created as a separate living space in an existing home. When we think of ADU's, we usually think of basement apartments. But things like a rented room or converted garage could also represent an ADU. On the other hand, Woodland Hills does not allow small separate buildings - like casitas or cabanas - to be constructed as ADU's. The only exception would be the conversion of an unattached garage, because it was part of the original home construction. Small separate buildings are not allowed as ADU's. What are some pros and cons of ADU's? At one time this was a hot topic in the city. Proponents of ADU's were often retiree's - maybe a lone couple who now occupied a large home and wanted renters to supplement their income, or help care for them in their old age. Many residents have also had children or other family who needed to move back in with them for a period of time. Opponents of ADU's complained that renters were less familiar with city regulations - especially firerestrictions - and were prone to dangerous violations. Other renters might engage in behavior inconsistent with community values. These problems were especially likely with short-term Air B&B types of rentals. Up to now, how has Woodland Hills dealt with ADU's ? In the past the city has had no specific ordinance on ADU's. Although they had not been officially allowed, some residents had them anyway. The city only stepped in if neighbors complained. And the city has always been amenable to renters who are members of a homeowner's family. The bottom line: historically, because of strong feelings on both sides of the ADU issue, the city council has been unable to reach an agreement, and efforts to pass an actual ordinance have been unsuccessful. So what motivated the city to adopt the ordinance now? Compliance with state law. State legislators have been concerned over Utah's lack of affordable housing. In response they passed recent legislation requiring all cities to allow accessory dwelling units. Salem already had an ADU ordinance in place which addressed many of our concerns, so we patterned our law after theirs. What has changed and not changed with this ordinance? First, what has not changed: the ordinance only applies to non-family rentals. Immediate and extended family renters are not impacted. What has changed is that the city code now officially allows non-family ADU rentals in Woodland Hills, with specific regulations and restrictions governing them. What are the regulations and restrictions? Here are some of the most significant ones: 1. Rentals can only be for 30 days or more. This is to avoid the problems often associated with short-term rentals. 2. The homeowner must be living in the home. Since a homeowner is ultimately responsible for the activity of renters, this gives the city an accountable resident. 3. The city requires every home to have three parking spaces, two of which must be covered. For an ADU, the city requires two additional off-street spaces. Neither of those need to be covered. 4. Every ADU must be inspected and registered with the city. How will inspections work? Some residents have been uncomfortable with the idea of home inspections, which can suggest intrusion and red tape. However, it might help to know that inspections will be limited to the rental space itself. And inspection standards will be the same as the home's original building standards - things like smoke alarms andescape windows. This helps guarantee safety for the renter and reduces liability for the city. The only exception to the routine building standard is that an ADU requires a separate home entrance. Are ADU's allowed everywhere in the city? No. The CC&R's of a home owners association can restrict them, which is the case in the Summit Creek development. There, only family member rentals are allowed. And depending on how your neighborhood is zoned, the required minimum rental period may be longer than 30 days. How do I register my ADU with the city? Registration will take place with the city offices, and keep our public safety personnel aware of how many people are living where in the city. Registration will also require a fee to help ensure that it takes place. Although our fee has not yet been determined, Salem's is a one-time payment of $300. How will this ordinance impact home rentals? It won't. Residents have always been able to rent out their homes in Woodland Hills, and they will continue to be able to as long as the rental is for the required minimum time period. To read the full text of the ordinance go to the city website at https://www.woodlandhills-ut.gov/ . Scroll down to Recent Agendas, then scroll further to City Council Meeting. On the January 25 th meeting, click View Agenda. Once in the agenda, scroll down to item 9 on the agenda, then click on the blue link to download the Accessory Dwelling Units ordinance. This report was authored by Glenn Anderson for the Woodland Hills Transparency Committee. Content was provided by Wayne Frandsen, head of the Woodland Hills Planning Commission. Wayne authored the city ordinance on accessory dwelling units.