This is one of the questions the Village’s Plan Commission has been contemplating as part of their initiative to identify additional housing opportunities in the village. And they’d like to hear your feedback!
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is defined as a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a stand-alone dwelling. According to the American Planning Association, ADUs have the potential to increase housing affordability for both homeowners and tenants, create a wider range of housing options within the community, enable seniors to stay near family as they age, and facilitate better use of the existing housing fabric in established neighborhoods. Although they can be costly to build and do not typically result in much new development, many cities and counties have signaled support for ADUs in their plans and adopted zoning regulations that permit ADUs in low density residential areas. As a counterargument, some communities have dealt with concerns that ADUs might cause parking issues or exacerbate problems with short-term rental enforcement.
Throughout 2025, the Plan Commission have met several times to discuss this and other housing related issues, such as the Village’s current definition of household and existing prohibitions on bedrooms in basements. In order to help formulate recommendations for consideration by the Village Board, the Plan Commission would appreciate hearing directly from residents, so they’ve put together a quick, anonymous survey to get a better understanding of how people feel about these topics and the potential regulations that could be developed to allow them. The survey will be open from Thursday, January 8 through Thursday, January 22 in order to provide a summary of responses to the Plan Commission for review at their Tuesday, January 27 meeting. If you have any questions or additional comments to share on these topics, please feel free to contact Planning and Development Director Bart Griepentrog via email: bgriepentrog@shorewoodwi.gov.