By Paula Pyzik Scott with Mackay Tuttle

Can you remember a time when Bluffton homes didn’t go like hotcakes? While the populations of both Allen and Hancock Counties have seen a gradual decline over the past 10-20 years, the Village of Bluffton expects to grow according to the 2024 Bluffton strategic plan, Bluffton Beyond Tomorrow.

The Village of Bluffton council is proposing a strategy that would help address the community’s housing shortage by setting guidelines for accessory dwelling unit (ADU) construction in Residential I and Residential II zoning districts. ADUs are secondary attached or unattached housing on an existing residential lot.

There is not currently a digitized zoning map to show locations of R-I and R-II areas in the Village. A large printed map is available for viewing at Town Hall.

ADUs aren’t a new concept in Bluffton, but they have not previously been addressed in the Village Code of Ordinances and the number of existing ADUs isn’t known. A draft of the ADU ordinance was presented to Council by the Ordinance committee in April 2024. The Ordinance Committee will formally seek community feedback during the process of developing the proposed ordinance.

ADUs are sometimes called granny flats, in reference to their frequent use as a separate dwelling for a family member. They can also provide living space for a resident’s caregiver or provide rental income. As smaller housing units, they are an opportunity to increase more affordable housing for individuals and young families, as well as options for empty-nesters who are downsizing.

The Village counci’s Ordinance Committee, composed of Joe Sehlhorst and Mitch Kingsley, is developing parameters such as owner occupancy requirements, size limitations, parking requirements, setbacks, height limits, etc. Accessory dwelling units can be conversions of existing buildings such as garages or new construction.

ZONING CODES

Information about current zoning guidance can be found online in the Village Code of Ordinances:

Chapter 150 Building Regulations https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/blufftonoh/latest/bluffton_oh/0-0-...

Chapter 153 Zoning
https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/blufftonoh/latest/bluffton_oh/0-0-...

At this time, Bluffton is not alone in exploring the potential benefits and drawbacks of formalizing local ordinances for Accessory Dwelling Units. In Ohio, Cincinnati has become the first city to legalize ADUs. A July 2024 report in the Cincinnati Enquirer shows that there was no huge rush to build ADUs in the year following legalization. The article indicates that this is due to guidelines protecting against short term rentals and absentee landlords.

The Bluffton Icon will notify readers when the council takes its next step in this process and provide additional information on the local housing shortage and accessory dwelling development.