After hours of public commentary, the San Diego City Council voted 5-4 to modify the city’s Accessory Dwelling Unit policy and bonus ADU program.
The council approved regulation amendments at its meeting on Monday night, which include the restriction of the development of ADUs. Capping the number of ADUs constructed on single-family lots at six was one of the more substantial modifications that the council agreed to. The ruling resulted in a loss for developers, but it was a victory for numerous residents.
The production of ADUs and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units was a result of California’s efforts to address the state’s homeless population and housing shortage. The state promoted the construction of additional housing units as the shortage intensified and the homeless population expanded. According to the City Planning Department, the city of San Diego initiated measures in 2017 to ensure that ADU and JADU regulations were in accordance with the changing state laws. This information was disclosed during the council meeting on Monday.
The Planning Department also stated that ADUs and JADUs were created with the goal of promoting affordability, accessibility, and neighborhood compatibility. However, the residents who attended the city council meeting contend that the units are performing the opposite.
Many residents acknowledged the housing crisis in San Diego; however, they maintained that the construction of additional ADUs was not the solution.
“The Bonus ADU program may have started off with good intentions of needing to build more housing, but it ended up benefiting the few developers who may look at it as a money grab, not a community partnership,” Shane Harris, the founder of The People’s Association of Justice Advocates, said at the meeting.
Judy Mitchell, a resident of San Diego, expressed similar sentiments to Harris, asserting that housing is required in the city. However, she also noted that ADUs are introducing numerous issues to the surrounding communities.
“We all know we need housing, but apartment buildings in our backyards, not being able to get out of our driveways, can’t put our trash cans down, it has gotten completely out of control, Mitchell said.
Harris, other residents, and Councilmember Mari von Wilpert proposed that the number of ADUs per property be limited to four. However, they were unable to proceed due to state requirement concerns. The council refrained from considering additional proposals due to concerns that they could potentially conflict with the state’s housing regulations.
Other modifications that have been implemented include the restriction of units to two stories, the maximum size of 12,000 square feet, the prohibition of sales; only rentals are permitted; and more stringent parking requirements.
