AgdaPkt 2003-10-13 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

io.�� ARTICLE 37: ACCESSORY DWELLINGS Currently, the Redwood City Zoning Ordinance (Article 37) regulates Accessory Dwelling Units. The City requires an "Architectural Permit" which means that Planning staff formally reviews the project for conformance to height, size, setba�ks, and overall general design compatibility. The new law requires that applications for the construction of accessory dwelling units (sometime referred to as "second units", "in-law units" or "granny flats") in all California Cities be processed via a"ministerial" (by-right) process rather than a discretionary process. In other words, a City cannot require a discretionary review or hearing but must have objective standards with basic "yes/no type" requirements that can be asked and answered at the front counter. (According to housing advocates, the State's current second unit law has not lived up to its potential because local governments have layered second unit projects with unnecessary conditions or procedural obstacles. The newiaw was intended to simplify the process for approving second units in order to increase the supply of affordable housing.) The new law will have little impact on Redwood City's current ordinance. Most of the City's review is already objective in nature (conformance to height, setbacks, etc.). However, there is some question about requiring an Architectural Permit and its associated design review. The City can either continue to require an Architectural Permit for secondary units or eliminate the requirement altogether. If it continues to require this perrnit, then under the new law, it must have specific measurab/e and objective design criteria as part of the Architectural Permit review process. Otherwise, design review is considered subjective and would not meet the intent of the law. Staff is proposing to eliminate the requirement for an Architectural Permit for one- stOfy accessory dwelling units. Not only would this do away with any hint of discretionary review and save staff time, but would mean one less fee for the applicant. Staff would, however, continue to require an Architectural Permit for second-storv accessory dwellings and other additions because these structures tend to be more visible and have greater impacts on the streetscape. Staff intends to establish objective and measuFable design criteria for these and all second story additions so as to comply with the new state law. These criteria are currently being developed by staff. Redwood City receives about 5-10 secondary unit applications per year. Most of the second units are one-story, usually on the side or rear of the main dwelling. Although the changes to the Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance should make the process more objective, cheaper, and in some cases easier, it probably won't result in a dramatic increase in the amount of applications. One reason for the lack of applications has probably been other permit aosts associated with 3