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Accessory dwelling plan might discriminate, so it’s going back for revisions

Salt Lake City’s effort to write new rules for accessory dwellings has consumed seven City Council briefings this year. Following the council’s move to table action on a hoped-for solution, there will be at least an eighth, and probably a ninth as well.

The council Tuesday sent the latest proposed rules back to the drawing board for reworking after a housing rights group cautioned that arbitrary boundaries in the proposal might discriminate against the poor.

Accessory dwellings are small second homes created on lots with existing single-family homes. Advocates say the smaller, less expensive homes can help ease housing shortages, have fewer environmental impacts, and help to stabilize neighborhoods.