Arapahoe County commissioners OK accessory dwelling units

BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Starting in September, some residents living in unincorporated areas of Arapahoe County will be able to add an accessory dwelling unit to their property.

e new housing option became available after the Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to approve accessory dwelling units, the county announced in a news release. Accessory dwelling units are smaller, independent residential structures that are either attached to a single-family home or located on the same lot as the house, the county said. Other names for these types of units include “mother-inlaw apartments” and “granny ats.” e City of Centennial is currently considering whether to permit accessory dwelling units within its city boundaries. e county’s planning commission had recommended accessory dwelling units be allowed only on property lot sizes that are 19 acres and bigger, according to the release.

“(Accessory dwelling units) are one of the tools counties can use to a ect housing prices and availability by creating a wider range of housing options, enabling older adults to stay near family, providing housing for caregivers and adult children,” the county said in the release.

Despite the commissioners’ approval, homeowner associationmanaged neighborhoods can prohibit accessory dwelling units through private covenants, the county said.

Several municipalities in Arapahoe County permit accessory dwelling units, such as Aurora, Englewood, Littleton, Sheridan, Cherry Hills Village and Bennett, according to the release.

As of 2019, there were 33,100 households in the unincorporated portion of Arapahoe County, representing about 14% of all of the county’s households, according to a county document.

Per the news release, Arapahoe County will permit both attached and detached accessory dwelling units in all agricultural and most residential zoning districts on lots that are at least 5,000 square feet.

“Commissioners disagreed, citing an urgent need to allow the structures on smaller property sizes, down to 5,000 square feet,” the county said in the release. “With the 19-acre recommendation, 977 lots within unincorporated Arapahoe County would have been eligible for an ADU compared to about 18,000 lots that meet the 5,000 feet requirement.” e county said exceptions to the accessory dwelling unit location, square footage and bedroom limitations will be granted for properties of 19 or more acres. ese new regulations will go into e ect Sept. 12, the county said.

Within urban areas on property lots that are fewer than 19 acres, accessory dwelling units can have up to two bedrooms, per the release. Detached accessory dwelling units will have to be situated in the rear or side yard of the property, behind the “principal dwelling” — meaning the main house.

Square footage limitations of the accessory dwelling unit will depend on the property lot size and/or the size of the principal dwelling, the county said.

Minimum design requirements, o -street parking and owner occupancy of either the principal dwelling or the accessory dwelling unit will be mandatory, according to the release.

One of the reasons the county commissioners voted to approve accessory dwelling units is because they believe it will help create additional a ordable housing options in the county, per the release.

“ADUs can help with a ordability,” Commissioner Jessica Campbell-Swanson said in the release.

“We heard from residents across the county this is an option that residents have been waiting for.”

Arapahoe County began exploring permitting accessory dwelling units in the fall of 2021, according to the release. As part of its consideration, the county asked for feedback from residents and stakeholders.

Campbell-Swanson said she does not share some people’s concern that accessory dwelling units will stretch capacity or change the character of a neighborhood.

“ ese are going to be legitimate structures,” Campbell-Swanson said in the release.

According to the release, Commissioner Leslie Summey said, “We want all our neighbors to be comfortable. It’s reassuring to know that the data on ADUs (accessory dwelling units) points to increased property values and positive outcomes for property owners and communities.”

Residents who are unsure whether they live in unincorporated Arapahoe County can nd that information by looking up their address on this website: arapahoegov. com/1150/Address-Parcel-Info. To watch the meeting where the county commissioners approved the new regulations, visit bit.ly/adumeet.

5.00%

6 OR 9 MONTH seek medical care. ere are no speci c treatments for the illness and no vaccines, but medical support can help relieve symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Prevention Experts say the best way to protect oneself from the virus is to prevent situations that could lead to bites.

“(Residents) need to protect themselves, especially at the times of dawn and dusk” Fiene said. “If you have to go outside at that time, making sure you wear long clothing, long pants, long sleeve shirts. And, again, wearing DEET-containing insect repellent.”

Dylan Garrison, environmental health manager at Arapahoe County Public Health, added that it can also be bene cial to eliminate spaces where mosquitoes would like to breed. Some of these areas could include standing water in areas like puddles, gutters, owerpots, tires, pool covers, boats and tarps.

“If you have tall grass or shrub areas or a bunch of bushes, it can be conducive to providing a place for them to hang out -- so keeping that trimmed and clean is always good idea,” he said.

If considering chemical treatment options for these areas, Garrison and Fiene said it is important to do so properly in order to not cause greater harm to other wildlife.

County actions e county is undertaking mitigation e orts where the infected mosquitoes were found, including insecticides and extensive mowing. Along with its surveillance and mitigation e orts, Garrison said the county is working hard to educate and inform the community of the precautions they should take.

“ is is largely about individual responsibility and what can you do as an individual to help prevent being bitten in the rst place,” he said. “ e more you know, the more you’re able to prevent the bite, and that’s the idea.

Boulder, Delta, Larimer and Weld counties also have mosquitoes con rmed to be carrying the virus, according to Arapahoe County.