Memorandum 16-055 Detached Dwellings in Rural Residential District

Memorandum 16-055

TO:                       MAYOR WYTHE AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL

THROUGH:       KATIE KOESTER, CITY MANAGER

FROM:                 RICK ABBOUD, CITY PLANNER

DATE:                  March 21, 2016

SUBJECT:         AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, AMENDING HOMER CITY CODE 21.12.020, PERMITTED USES AND STRUCTURES; REGARDING THE PERMISSION OF DETACHED DWELLING UNITS IN THE RURAL RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT.

Introduction

When this was the subject of City Council in 2014, a floor amendment was made and was not reviewed by the Planning Office or the City Attorney. The language adopted was not optimal and could lead to some confusion regarding dimensional requirements already found in code.

Originally, the Planning Commission proposed that an accessory dwelling unit on lots served by city water and sewer in the Rural Residential District forgo the CUP process and be permitted through the Planning Office. A motion was passed at the City Council to extend this opportunity to those not on the city system. This motion included a reference regarding lots over one acre. HCC 21.12.040 already stipulates the minimum square footage required for all uses and structures in the Rural Residential District. All dwellings are required to follow these regulations.

After consulting with the City Attorney, I presented a ‘housekeeping’ ordinance to the Planning Commission for review. This ordinance simplifies the language and provides a reference to the existing City Code that determines dimensional requirements according to the type of water and wastewater service available on a Rural Residential lot. It proposes no change in policy; it simply aligns existing requirements to the concept of allowing an additional dwelling on a lot not served by city water and sewer services.

Recommendation:

The Homer Advisory Planning Commission recommends that the Homer City Council adopt this draft Ordinance.

Attachments

Draft Ordinance