Tiburon second-unit ordinance would formalize state laws while preserving neighbor alerts

As Tiburon works to realign its second-unit rules with state law, the Planning Commission voted last week to keep notifying neighbors of new approvals, possibly via opt-in email — even though residents have no power to block projects.

The commission voted 3-0 Feb. 25 to recommend the Town Council approve a package of updates to the town’s ministerial, checklist-based accessory-unit approval process and to supplemental local rules.

Among them: the time staff has to determine whether an application is complete drops to 15 business days, while applicants whose projects are denied or deemed incomplete now have the right to appeal to the Planning Commission.

It was the second time in 14 months commissioners had declined to advance staff’s proposal to eliminate the courtesy notices, and they directed staff to develop a streamlined alternative before the Town Council considers the ordinance on April 15.

If approved by the council in April, a second vote would then be required to formally adopt the local revisions.

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