The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
San Diego is reining in its accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations after a series of complaints from residents about the size of new buildings, reports Andrew Keatts in Axios.
The city’s ADU bonus program allows property owners that include income-restricted units to build additional ADUs, effectively letting developers build full apartment buildings on single-family lots. “The council voted 6-3 to direct city planners to return within 90 days with a repeal of the program in single-family zones that tend to have the largest lot sizes, which made them susceptible to ‘outlier’ projects that generated the most opposition.” The council also directed city staff to come up with reforms to the ADU program that could include infrastructure fees.
Keatts points out that the opposition in this case didn’t come from wealthy white homeowners; some residents worry that the movement will perpetuate inequities and displace longtime community members. “Opposition Tuesday came specifically from residents of District 4, the city's historically black community that has been hit especially hard with bonus ADU projects because many of its single-family neighborhoods have large lot sizes,” Keatts notes.
FULL STORY: San Diego Council begins rolling back ADU policy that allowed backyard apartment buildings
San Diego Sees Continued Growth in ADU Permits
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.
San Diegans at Odds Over ‘Granny Towers’
A provision in the city’s ADU ordinance allows developers to build an essentially unlimited number of units on single-family lots.
Reno Revisits Zoning Reform
After roundly rejecting a proposal to legalize granny flats in 2018, the city council is revising it and other zoning reform proposals that could increase the city’s affordable housing supply.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
End Human Sacrifices to the Demanding Gods of Automobile Dependency and Sprawl
The U.S. has much higher traffic fatality rates than peer countries due to automobile dependency and sprawl. Better planning can reduce these human sacrifices.
Trump: Federal Government Won’t Pay for California HSR
The President has targeted federal funding for the California bullet train project since his first administration.
San Francisco Enhances Urban Planning Initiatives with Green Infrastructure
San Francisco incorporates green infrastructure in its city development initiatives, elevating the importance of sustainability in urban planning.
Chicago Approves Green Affordable Housing Plan
The Mayor’s plan calls for creating a nonprofit housing corporation tasked with building affordable housing that meets Green Building standards.
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.
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions