Bloomington City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday night allowing a small number of Accessory Dwelling Units, also known as granny flats, or ADU's, in the city. The program will monitor the success of the detached units inside city limits, as they go up.
Council member Isabel Piedmont-Smith said that she thinks ADU's are a resource for families looking for alternative living arrangements.
"They can provide a very much needed way for people to age in place or to care for a family member who may be sort of independent but not entirely independent," she says.
The program is intended to foster a gradual increase in neighborhood density.
Some rules do come with these units; one of the units on a property must be owner-occupied, the units can have only one bedroom, be no larger than 600 square feet, and each unit would have to seek approval for conditional use.
This would be done through the board of zoning appeals or a hearing officer. This process will allow owners of neighboring properties to speak out against or in support of the approval.
Anyone wishing to apply for an ADU can reach out the Bloomington Plan Commission starting today.