After legalizing accessory dwelling units in 2016, the city of Ann Arbor hasn't added many accessory dwelling units. Some regulations designed to limit the number of ADUs developed have made the building type impossibly cost prohibitive.
"[The] Ann Arbor city council is considering ways to make it easier for homeowners to create accessory dwelling units on their property," reports Lauren Slagter.
After achieving very little development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) since approving an ordinance to allow the construction and rental of accessory dwelling units in 2016, the Ann Arbor City Council is ready to retool the ordinance to encourage more development.
"The ordinance included restrictions intended to prevent the proliferation of ADUs across the city, and now city council thinks the restrictions may have worked too well," according to Slagter.
Most of the lack of ADU development in the city is credited to the high cost of building the units. According to Slagter, the city already dropped a previous requirement for every detached ADU to have its own water and sewer hookup, separate from the main house. Removing that requirement dropped the price of constructing an ADU by $20,000 to $30,000. Possible refinements of the city's ADU ordinance include removing maximum size regulations; removing minimum lot size requirements; allowing ADUs on lots with single-famly zones, regardless of zoning; and more.
FULL STORY: Ann Arbor looks to make it easier to build accessory apartments
Spreading the Parking Reform Love Around Downtown Houston
Two downtown-adjacent neighborhoods would no longer require parking for new developments under a proposal under consideration in the city of Houston.
ADUs, Minimum Lot Sizes, and Quadplexes Under Discussion in Traverse City
Zoning changes for everything from housing density to minimum lot sizes are under consideration for a city on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Landmark Land Use Bill Fails in Colorado Legislature
Colorado Governor Jared Polis’s effort to allow for more housing construction by preempting local control of zoning failed to achieve the required level of political support in the state legislature.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service