Agenda 01-17-23; 5-a - Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment – Rename “Efficiency Apartments” to “Accessory Dwelling Units” and Modify Standards

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1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: January 17, 2023 Action Agenda Item No. 5-a SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment — Rename "Efficiency Apartments" to "Accessory Dwelling Units" and Modify Standards DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. Statement of Approval and Consistency Cy Stober, Director, (919) 245-2592 2. Proposed Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Tyler Sliger, Planner II, (919) 245-2586 Text Amendment 3. Excerpt of Draft December 7, 2022 Planning Board Minutes and Signed Statement of Consistency 4. Letters of Support from Orange County Departments on Aging and Housing PURPOSE: To hold a public hearing, receive the Planning Board/staff recommendations and public comment, close the public hearing, and consider action on County-initiated amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) regarding proposed revisions to the current standards for "efficiency apartments". BACKGROUND: An "efficiency apartment" is an accessory dwelling to the primary single-family dwelling on an individual property. The salient current use standards for efficiency apartments in Section 5.5.3 of the UDO are: • Maximum gross square footage of 1,000 square feet (maximum of 800 square feet can be heated/cooled), • Cannot be a mobile home, and • The efficiency unit shall remain in the same ownership as the primary residence. An efficiency apartment can give a property owner the ability to enhance their property use for additional family members or to rent to a tenant. The current size limitation of 1,000 square feet for an efficiency unit can result in some property owners having to subdivide their property in order to construct a larger unit, affecting the affordability of such homes and lots due to the professional service costs and review fees in creating a new lot. The increased flexibility of the proposed amendments will also allow for greater aging-in-place and multigenerational living opportunities, as well as serving equity needs by better enabling less-resourced property owners the abilities to realize viable secondary residences for rent or use by relations without requiring subdivision of property. In September 2021, the BOCC received information from a multi-department staff group regarding expansion of affordable housing incentives and opportunities. The agenda materials can be viewed at: Housing Affordability Study. Expanded use of accessory dwelling units was included as a strategy to increase affordable housing options within Orange County.