(11/25) Last year the Planning and Zoning Commission considered amending the Town Code to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in town. Although Commission members were interested in the topic, it was left for discussion at a later date and was subsequently forgotten. This November, the Commission re-introduced the topic after a resident approached the mayor and town council requesting the Town consider allowing more ADU options.
ADUs are secondary housing units on a single-family residential lot. Examples include tiny homes, basement apartments, coach or carriage houses, in-law suites and guest houses. Thurmont does currently allow single-family dwellings to be converted into two-family dwellings in specific zones but does not allow standalone accessory dwellings.
One reason for writing ADUs into the Town’s Code is because of the affordable housing issue. The Thurmont Master Plan recommends providing affordable housing to accommodate the Town’s changing housing needs as a long-term goal. Chair Meredith Wivell questioned the definition of affordable housing as she had last year. "There is no clear definition of what affordable housing is and there are no metrics to measure it either," she said. It is a question the Commission must find an answer to in order to proceed.
Town Planner Kelly Duty explained that ADUs allow Thurmont to answer the affordable housing question without losing the "small town" feel. They allow homeowners to benefit financially when renting them and the additional tax that the Town would receive when the ADU is added to a home increases the home's value. Duty promoted the benefits of decreased isolation and depression by allowing a person to live in town close to family and friends instead of being forced to move away in the search for affordable housing.
When looking at other municipalities, Duty found that Frederick City, Frederick County, Myersville, New Market and Walkersville all allow some form of ADU in their code. While all only allow them in specific zoning districts, most limited their size to 800 square feet, with Frederick County allowing 1,000 square feet. They also limit one ADU to each lot.
Wivell also pointed out the importance of the ADUs being built out of material harmonious with the existing property structure. "We don’t want things that look like they don't belong there," she said. They also don’t want to cause owners to spend copious amounts of money to make the ADU look the same as the original structure, which could negate the "affordable" concept.
Another consideration for the Commission was whether the ADUs should be limited to "owner occupancy," if direct family would be allowed as residents or if an ADU could be rented out to a non-relative. Duty also asked the Commission to consider if usage as short-term rentals would be allowed.
Duty will be working on a mock ordinance for the Commission to review at a future meeting. The write-up will address the previously mentioned concerns as well as other questions directed to the Commission. Commission members will continue to research ADUs with other municipalities as well.
