My guardian angels & neighbors emailed another great letter yesterday to all the councilmembers, including an attachment of Sausalitos pathway to legalization for unpermitted ADUs- Dear Mayor Robinson, At yesterdays City Council meeting (Sept 9) the unanimous council enthusiasm for a collaborative, non-punitive approach to disruptive Mall behavior via the DAP program was striking. I hope that such a collaborative, non-punitive approach can be applied to legalizing the many unpermitted ADUs that currently exist in our city and that provide affordable housing to hundreds of city residents. Such an approach should include a program to legalize these unpermitted ADUs recognizing that all of these were constructed without the benefit of hindsight as to what the zoning and building regulations for ADUs would ultimately be. I applaud the more realistic, reduced standards for new ADU construction embodied in the package of proposed ADU zoning amendments. However many of the existing, unpermitted units that currently provide safe housing cannot meet even these proposed zoning standards. Existing units cannot increase their lot size. They cannot reduce their existing square footage. They cannot change their setbacks. I am attaching a copy of Sausalitos A Guide to Amnesty for Accessory Dwelling Unit Permits which can serve as a model of how to proceed here in Santa Cruz. Several other California cities have implemented similar legalization programs for existing ADUs. The goal is to acknowledge that these unpermitted units are a valuable resource, that they can be upgraded to minimum health and safety standards, and that zoning issues should take a back seat in favor of the housing needs of our citizens. I was at the planning commission meeting last Thursday (Sept 4) where one commissioner, not wanting to consider further amendments, encouraged passage of the current amendment document saying that it was good enough. If good enough is a legitimate standard for legislation then good enough is a legitimate standard for legalizing existing, unpermitted ADUs. I encourage the Council to initiate a collaboration between the zoning department, the building department, the City Council, owners of unpermitted ADUs, the rental community and the citizenry at large to create a win - win situation. Through a clear, simple legalization program affordable housing will be preserved. The housing stock will be upgraded. Existing ADU owners will achieve legitimacy. Renters will not become homeless. The city will receive income through permit fees. The city will have a current, complete database of its housing stock. Property tax revenue will increase due to increased property valuation. I urge that a moratorium be immediately put in place to stop abatement, red tags, and eviction from unpermitted ADUs based solely on not meeting current zoning and building codes. All negative action should be suspended pending both passage of the package of ADU zoning amendments sent to you by the planning commission and the swift implementation of a clear, simplified path to legalization that takes into account the realistic situation on the ground. Thank you, Michael Sausalito Amnesty Program.pdf
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 00:33:56 +0000
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