05/11/2006: "CC Takes On Guesthouse Vesting Ord Again"

The County Council has received a proposed draft ordinance from the Planning Commission, that is intended to provide relief to landowners that have found themselves caught in the Accessory Dwelling Unit battle. The appeal of the ADU regulations has resulted in a number of property owners being denied a right to construct their main house, because they had first constructed a "guest house", and now cannot build a "main house"; unless they remove the kitchen from the guest house, in effect turning the guest house into sleeping quarters.

The council is attempt to provide a vesting mechanism that will allow those trapped by the ongoing legal battles to have a window of opportunity within which a main residence may be constructed. Randy Gaylord, the County Prosecutor has addressed the issue by preparing a draft for Council review, but it was rejected by the Council for the Planning Commission version, which is a modification of the O'day and Bahrych proposal presented to the Council in February. Previous Story: "PA & CC At Odds..Again"

A work session was held on the draft ordinance on Tuesday, but the Council was unable to complete the work, and will hold a second work session prior to moving their work product to a public hearing, not yet scheduled.