New granny unit law still requires public approval (they have laws about this?)

santacruzsentinel ^

[chance33_98]

New granny unit law still requires public approval 
By HEATHER BOERNER
Sentinel staff writer
The City Council voted Tuesday to expand the number of permits for granny units, eliminate a requirement for covered parking and allow granny unit owners to buy their way out of affordability requirements.

The changes to the city’s accessory dwelling unit law, which applies to converted garages and detached cottages in the rear of single-family homes, stopped short of eliminating public hearings, leading some to say the law will preserve neighborhoods and others to say the council abandoned its commitment to affordable housing.

David Foster, a member of Affordable Housing Advocates, said the law isn’t likely to produce many more legal granny units than the previous law did because public hearings are a deterrent.

"This is better than the law was but it’s a long way from where we need to be to make housing affordable to people in this town," he said.

Councilman Scott Kennedy looks at it another way.

"That change took the guts out of the thing," he said.

The granny unit law will come before the council once more for final approval in two weeks. It’s a pilot program and the council will review the results of the changes in a year.

The council chose to compromise between two options for overhauling the granny unit law, with Councilman Tim Fitzmaurice saying that the broader changes "aren’t ripe" enough yet to be adopted into law.

"The best we can say about (the subcommittee’s) recommendations is that they’re not ripe. It hasn’t been to the planning commission and needs more work," he said. "It also seems to be anti-neighborhood. With (the subcommittee’s recommendation), we seem to be saying that single-family housing is obnoxious and not wanted and that doesn’t make any sense to me."

Instead, Fitzmaurice, Keith Sugar, Christopher Krohn and Emily Reilly voted to adopt the Planning Commission’s more modest changes.

The law still requires a public hearing, but in front of the zoning administrator instead of the Planning Commission.

"This is a cheaper process and somewhat less onerous," said Kaitilin Gaffney, chair of the Planning Commission. "I think it’s a good step, and that we’re moving forward."

[chance33_98]

The literature supporting the bill uses Santa Cruz city’s laws as an example of what not to do with second units, saying, "...although state law requires that cities and counties allow for at least some second units, many cities and counties have restrictive requirements.’’ Cited is the city of Santa Cruz, which imposes a $10,000 sewer and water connection fee on both 500 square-foot second units as well as a four-bedroom home."

From another article here. The whole thing sounds a bit stupid to me...

[Lorianne]

Yep, they're called zoning laws. Most places have them unless you live in "unincorporated" areas. You should always read through your zoning laws and building codes before you buy property.

You can't do whatever you want with your property unless you buy property that is not subject to these laws and ordinances. You buy into the local codes and laws when you buy property. Most people are clueless about this.

[chance33_98]

Thanks for the perspective, I generally rent because I move often (have not decided where I want to really live yet). My parents had a 'granny' unit for my ailing grandmother and always worried about the city finding out - as I kid I never understood why they were worried...

[Hugin]

Bet it wouldn't sound so stupid if the landlord next door rented out his garage to 26 Mexicans.

[chance33_98]

Actually, I knew a family of laotians that did basically that. Did not mind it really as they all worked and stayed together so they could afford to save money and support themselves. BUT if they are going to have such a law, I for one would vote that it excluded family members.