The Reno City Council could not vote on an ordinance regulating accessory dwelling units (ADUs) because of an administrative error.
Today's draft would have amended Chapter 18.03, Article 5 of the Reno Annexation and Land Development Code. This section covers Temporary Uses and Structures, neither of which are relevant to ADUs.
The City of Reno says the draft the council voted on two weeks ago did not mention this section. But today, this language showed up in the ordinance stricken through.
"We are coming back for a second reading on October 8th," says Grace Mackedon, Senior Management Analyst for Development Services with the City of Reno.
Addressing the issue, she says, "there was a section of our code that's not being touched. It hasn't been touched. But it was added into this draft and shown is stricken through."
Mackendon says the error is a technicality, and the vote was pushed back so the City Council can officially decide on the correct version.
The ordinance as it's intended will amend the zoning code to add use standards, design criteria, parking standards, and a 5,000 square-foot minimum lot size.
Mackedon says the City of Reno has gone through two and a half years of public outreach for this ordinance.
Two weeks ago, a 28-day minimum stay requirement was removed at the request of City Council, so ADUs can be used as short-term rentals. They also asked that attached units must meet the same size requirements as detached ones.
This draft will amend sections of the zoning code related to Accessory Buildings & structures, standards for accessory uses, and development standards.
Mackedon adds the next reading should go by fast.
"Typically, we don't see presentation or much discussion, especially since it was a unanimous vote for that first reading," she says. "Hopefully because those changes have been incorporated, now they're getting extra time to kind of review that draft ordinance. so hopefully we just see a vote and an adoption."
As currently scheduled, the Reno City Council is expected to officially vote on this ordinance at its meeting on October 8th.
