URGENT UPDATE: The Ferndale City Council has just suspended its accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance following a critical letter from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). This decision, made unanimously during a meeting on November 14, 2023, comes as the city grapples with compliance issues regarding its outdated 2019 regulations.
The HCD’s warning highlighted that Ferndale’s existing ADU policy does not align with the more permissive state laws enacted over the past five years. This suspension allows the city to default to state standards while it works to craft a revised ordinance. Ferndale City Clerk and interim City Manager Kristene Hall stated that the city has been proactively using current state guidelines to process applications, anticipating the need for an overhaul.
“We have already been using the state standards, knowing that there have been so many laws coming out,” Hall explained. “This has been on our radar, and we just went through our land use update… it was kind of our next step, anyway.”
The newly passed “interim urgency ordinance” suspends the enforcement of outdated ADU zoning rules, paving the way for a more compliant approach. Hall confirmed that the city staff is actively engaged in drafting a new ADU policy, which will undergo public hearings before advancing to the city council for approval.
The council’s next steps include a public first and second reading of the new ordinance, followed by a vote. The earliest the council anticipates adopting the new ADU rules is during its regularly scheduled meeting on March 18, 2024.
The urgency of this situation is underscored by the HCD’s directive, which stated that if a local ADU ordinance fails to meet state requirements, it is deemed null and void. This means that Ferndale must act swiftly to align its policies with state laws to avoid potential legal complications.
Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed as the city navigates this critical transition. With the potential for increased housing options through compliant ADU regulations, the outcome of this situation could significantly impact Ferndale’s housing landscape.
Stay tuned for further updates as the city moves forward in addressing these urgent compliance issues.
