Council to vote on amendments to Accessory Dwelling Code

On Thursday December 20th, the Cape Charles Town Council will be voting on a proposed text amendment to the Town Code that sets the utility rates for accessory dwelling units. 

The proposal will exempt non-rent paying occupants from paying an additional monthly utility bill.  Rent paying occupants will be billed at fifty percent of the minimal monthly residential bill.

Accessory dwelling units in Cape Charles are only by conditional use permit, not by right, so Council has control over location and number of units approved in town.  

Language allowing for accessory dwelling units as a conditional use in
certain residential zoning districts was approved by Town Council at the October 18, 2018, regular monthly meeting, following a public hearing held that same date on the proposed language.

At that meeting Council deferred action on setting water and sewer rates.

Additional work was zoning districts staff and Councilman Grossman to
determine appropriate income-based and monthly rental cost criteria as a determination for setting the conditions of billing fees.

Proposed utility rates were discussed by the Council at the December 6, 2018, special meeting. Following that discussion, the Council reached a consensus that the rates should be lower than rates for single-family residential dwellings.

The Town Code language needs to be amended to allow for water and sewer
billing accounts of accessory dwelling units approved as conditional uses. Staff proposes the following as text amendments to existing language found in sections 70.35 and 71.42:70.35.(b)\71.42.(b):

Accessory dwelling units approved by Town Council as a conditional use shall be billed at fifty (50) percent of the residential monthly minimum bill.
Accessory dwelling units occupied by family member(s) of the principal property owner or non-rent paying occupants may be exempt from this monthly bill upon the Town receiving affidavit signed by the principal property owner attesting to such occupancy.