To boost housing supply, Lake County could ease rules for accessory dwelling units

Lake County planners are proposing to make it easier to create accessory dwelling units in unincorporated areas to increase the supply and variety of housing in the county.

In partnership with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the county has been coordinating Housing Lake, a regional initiative to evaluate needs and identify strategies to address scarcity, development costs and limited diversity in housing options.

Besides those broad targets, county planners say they have received interest from residents looking to build accessory dwelling units (ADU) on their properties.

Most houses in Lake County are single-family detached homes, planners say, and there is a severe shortage of options.

“We are in a serious crisis with housing at the regional level,” Eric Waggoner, the county’s director of zoning and development, said during a recent meeting of the county board’s planning, building, zoning and environmental committee.

Accessory dwellings currently are limited to properties of at least 80,000 square feet — about two acres — or within certain low-density zoning districts.

Under current and proposed regulations, an ADU can be attached to the primary residence or be free-standing. The current rule does not allow an ADU to be rented to a nonfamily member or members, but that could be relaxed, officials said.

Reducing that lot size or increasing the number of allowed zoning areas are other options, Waggoner said.

“Given the increased focus on ADUs locally and nationally, as well as their potential to expand housing availability and provide greater flexibility for property owners” reevaluating those standard is appropriate, according to a county overview.

The county board on Tuesday directed the advisory Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals to hold a public hearing on proposed change at a yet-to-be-determined date.

Before that hearing, planners will continue researching rules and best practices in neighboring counties.

At a minimum, planners are proposing changes to permitted zoning districts and minimum lot requirements. Additional changes and expanding the scope of ADU provisions are anticipated in the coming year.

“This is an early first step before the heavy lifting takes place,” Waggoner said.

He said every request for a variation to allow them has been approved to date, but that requires a hearing before the ZBA.

“There are ways it can be done right,” he said of ADUs. “What we'd like to do is eliminate that barrier.”

mzawislak@dailyherald.com