The Marion County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. to receive testimony on amending the Marion County Rural Zone Code to permit accessory dwelling units (ADU) in urban growth boundary areas outside city limits. The commission will meet in the Senator Hearing Room of Courthouse Square located at 555 Court St. NE, Salem.
An accessory dwelling unit is small second dwelling on the same property (or attached to) as a single-family residence. Examples include a basement apartment, apartment over a garage, or a small cottage in the backyard. ADU's are often used as housing for family members.
The Planning Commission is seeking feedback from the community to make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners for zone code changes related to ADU's.
Considerations include:
- Type of ADU – attached, interior, detached
- Size of ADU
- Location on the property
- Standards of heights, setbacks and parking
- Whether the ADU unit can be rented and rental duration
- Residential zones where ADUs would be allowed
Draft standards and other meeting material are available on the county website at http://www.co.marion.or.us/PW/Planning/Pages/commission.aspx.
Written testimony will also be accepted until 4 p.m. on Monday, July 31. Testimony must include the name and address of the person commenting and may be sent to planning@co.marion.or.us. For additional information, contact the Marion County Planning Division at (503) 588-5038.
