RESOLUTION NO. WHEREAS, the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan prioritizes the need for a mix of housing types across the city, including both rental and homeownership opportunities for singles, families with and without children, seniors, persons with disabilities, and multi-generational families; and WHEREAS, accessory dwelling units ("ADUs") can provide new housing units without changing the feeling or texture of established neighborhoods and allow more efficient use of existing housing stock and infrastructure; and WHEREAS, ADUs can help homeowners make ends meet while providing affordable, central-city housing opportunities for single young people, seniors, and multi-generational families by providing a mix of housing that responds to changing family needs and smaller households; and WHEREAS, 34% of Austinites live in single person households; and WHEREAS, currently ADUs of up to 850 square feet are allowed on lots of at least 7,000 square feet by right, or on lots that are 5,750 square feet if that neighborhood has opted in to the Secondary Apartment Special Use Infill Option through their neighborhood plan; and WHEREAS, currently, if an ADU is SMART Housing certified, it may be allowed increased impervious cover and increased gross floor area; and WHEREAS, a 500 square foot ADU is likely to be affordable; and WHEREAS, Portland and other cities have reduced obstacles to ADUs by means such as waiving development fees and parking requirements in an effort to encourage the development of ADUs; NOW, THEREFORE,

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: 1. The City Council initiates amendments to Title 25 of the City Code and directs the City Manager to develop an ordinance that reduces regulatory barriers to the development of ADUs that are less than 500 square feet in size. 2. The ordinance should include, but need not be limited to, eliminating parking and driveway requirements. 3. The City Manager is further directed to convene a stakeholder process to develop additional recommendations for ADUs of less than 500 square feet, including but not limited to code amendments that: a. reduce minimum lot size; b. increase allowed impervious cover; c. reduce building separation requirements; d. increase maximum height; e. increase maximum gross floor area for 2nd story ADUs; and f. allow a legally non-complying structure to add an ADU, if located on a lot with sufficient area. 4. The City Manager is directed to present the proposed code ordinance to the City Council within 120 days.

ADOPTED: _____________, 2014

ATTEST: Jannette S. Goodall City Clerk

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