By Mark Carlisle | YourValley
A state bill earlier this year loosened some regulations the city of Phoenix had in place for casitas. One member of the Phoenix Planning Commission pushed for some further loosened regulations, but he was overruled by the rest of the commission during last week’s meeting.
Commissioner Ryan Boyd suggested allowing detached casitas, or accessory dwelling units, in a house’s front yard — as long as they’re not too close to the street — and removing requirements for attached casitas to look similar in style to primary house.
The commission last week approved a zoning text change to align the city’s laws around auxiliary dwelling units to the state’s, but no other members of the 10-person commission joined Boyd’s substitute motion to enact those two amendments.
“I do think there needs to be some uniformity for the look and design of attached units. I think that makes sense,” Commissioner Gabriel Jaramillo said about keeping the requirement for attached casitas to look similar to the main house.
Detached casitas in a front yard can be allowed if far enough from the street and the homeowner is approved for a use permit with the city.
The commission did agree to one suggestion Boyd made on the ADU text change — changing the wording from a “common wall” to a “shared wall” regarding attached casitas.
“It will be interesting to see various cities’ different regulations relating to ADU’s. From loose guidelines to making implementation more difficult, we will end up with a variety of rules dependent on the underlying feeling whether ADU’s, as a right, are a good idea.”
-Jordan Rose, Rose Law Group Founder and President
