Laserfiche WebLink
Accessory Dwelling Unit Policy Discussion <br />City Council Review; 2-1-22 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Page 3 <br /> Benefits existing homeowners by providing extra income source that can help to mitigate increases in the cost of <br />living <br />WHY DO SOME RESIDENTS ASK FOR ADU’s? <br />The most common reasons cited on-line for people wanting ADU’s include: <br /> Added income through rental. <br /> The ability to age-in-place and downsize. <br /> Maybe it’s the only way someone can afford to live in the City or in a particular neighborhood (i.e. living in an <br />ADU while renting out the home until it’s financially feasible to move into the primary home). <br /> The ability to house friends or family as care givers. <br /> Reducing environmental impact by producing more housing thereby lessening the pressure to do so elsewhere. <br /> Gaining additional housing space (i.e. detached office, family playroom, man-cave/she-shed, etc. <br /> Wealth-building; on-line estimates suggest that ADU’s can increase property values by 50% on average <br />WHY DO SOME RESIDENTS OPPOSE ADU’s? <br /> Increased density on existing lots increases traffic and can result in parking shortages in areas with high on- <br />street parking rates. <br /> Densification of single-family areas “degrades” single-family neighborhoods by making them “unsightly” through <br />impacts to spacing between structures, increased parking, loss of greenspace, and greater pressure on existing <br />infrastructure (sewer, water, electricity, roads, etc). <br /> They believe that affordable units of any kind will bring “undesirable” people into the community thereby <br />depressing property values and cause an increase in crime, litter, and violence. <br /> Conversely, people will also argue that if the units increase property values, that such increased values mean <br />higher taxes for everyone. <br /> Adding ADU’s ends the single-family nature and feel of existing neighborhoods. <br />COMMON STICKING POINTS IN ADU DISCUSSIONS <br /> Owner occupancy requirements. Should the primary residence to be occupied by the owner in order to build and <br />rent out an ADU? Can the property owner reside in the ADU and rent out the primary home? <br /> Maximum size requirements. What is an appropriate size for an ADU? <br /> Off-street parking requirements. Available road frontage and room for driveways on existing lots can be an <br />impediment to ADUs for many lots if an off-street parking requirement is established.