Accessory Dwelling Units and Other Zoning Items Discussed at County Planning Commission Meeting

In alignment with the comprehensive plan, the Warren County Planning Commission considered at their Wednesday, May 14 regular meeting several zoning text amendments, some of which relate to a proposed definition for accessory dwelling unit, the replacement of guesthouse with that ADU definition, and the regulation of ADUs in the agricultural zoning district. In the language of the plan, “The adoption of an ADU ordinance would allow for the thoughtful distribution of additional housing in the Agricultural zoned district for long-term housing for families and workforce and not for transient rentals or short-term tourist rentals.” As the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age, ADUs belong in the category of diverse housing types that a more flexible zoning and subdivision policy would allow for that demographic.

The Warren County Planning Commission sits in readiness for its monthly meeting on the evening of Wednesday, May 14. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

The proposed definition for an accessory dwelling unit is: “A subordinate dwelling unit located on the same lot as a principal single-family dwelling that includes permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.” Attached are supplemental regulations not limited to parking requirements and setbacks in a scenario that would only allow for one ADU per principal dwelling. The proposed definition for ADU would replace the guesthouse, a significant difference being that rent can be collected on an ADU. The primary focus of the commissioners’ attention was the application of ADUs in the agricultural zoning district, insofar as an attached ADU or one such as a basement preexisting in the principal dwelling would be allowed by right while a detached ADU would be allowed by conditional use permit. The commissioners’ discussion ranged from acreage to square footage to well and septic to the potential for a family subdivision, and in the end, they tabled the amendments pertaining to ADUs to be discussed again after revision in June and advertised at that time for public hearing in July.

Zoning Administrator Chase Lenz.

(L) to (R): Planning Director Matt Wendling and County Attorney Jordan Bowman.

Other text amendments reviewed concerned agritourism insofar as the amendments would require a conditional use permit to be acquired for agritourism activities that the zoning administrator determines to have a substantial impact on the health, safety, and general welfare of the public, accompanied by supplemental regulations. Also reviewed were amendments for agricultural pursuits in the commercial and industrial districts, wherein at the time of rezoning from agricultural to commercial or industrial, lawfully existing agricultural pursuits may be allowed to continue without a conditional use permit, which would be required if the pursuit is new. Commissioner William Gordon raised the concern that the demarcation between new and lawfully existing may be somewhat ambiguous; for instance, if someone simply wants to raise a crop different from the one previously grown, it should not necessitate the conditional use permit. County Attorney Jordan Bowman agreed that the language could be adjusted for clarity. The agritourism concern and the continued lawful pursuit in agriculture, along with amendments streamlining application procedure, were authorized for advertisement for public hearing at the June meeting.

Click here to watch the Warren County Planning Commission Meeting of May 14, 2025.