Recent changes to regulations have made it easier and more affordable for homeowners to build ‘granny flats,’ and San Diego’s housing stock is benefiting.
Applications for permits for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) continue to grow at a rapid clip in San Diego, where state and city laws have made it easier to build the units in recent years, reports Andrew Keatts in Axios San Diego. “In 2015, the city issued just four ADU permits. That figure jumped to 627 in 2019 as city planners reduced fees, expanded where ADUs could be built, streamlined approvals, eliminated parking requirements and more.”
According to Keatts, “The 2021 ‘ADU bonus program’ allows owners to build an extra unit for each ADU they agree to reserve for renters earning below a certain income threshold.” While some homeowners oppose the Bonus Program, Keatts notes that only 8 percent of ADU applications used the program.
Meanwhile, the promise of increased affordability remains aspirational: “The city issued permits last year for 87 ADUs with income restrictions for future renters, but nearly all of those were for so-called moderate incomes, or people earning up to 110% of the area median.” Keatts adds, “Just five units were reserved for people categorized as having low or very low incomes.”
FULL STORY: Controversial ADU program accounts for fraction of spike in granny flat permits
San Diego Residents Challenge the City's ADU Regulations
Residents in some of the city's single-family neighborhoods worry about the potential impacts of ADU construction on local character and parking.
How Hawaii Can Make the Most of its ADU Law
The state recently legalized accessory dwelling units in residential districts, but there’s more state lawmakers can do to reduce other hurdles to large-scale ADU production.
Cincinnati ADU Legalization Slow to Catch On
Only four permits have been filed since the city made ‘granny flats’ legal last year.
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