5 days ago
Reforms to bonus ADU program head to San Diego city council for second reading
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego's recent reforms to the city's bonus ADU program are set to have a second reading at city council Tuesday.
'In some projects, we were seeing 20, 30, 40 and now it's getting up over 100 ADU's on a single family-zoned parcel,' said Geoffrey Hueter, chair of Neighbors for a Better San Diego.
San Diego City Council passes sweeping amendments to regulate ADUs
Neighbors for a Better San Diego has been pushing for changes to the bonus ADU program since 2021 when the first large-scale project got on their radar.
Last month, city council finally passed 25 reforms, including parking requirements, developer-paid community enhancement fees, and most notably a limit of four to six units, depending on lot size.
State law already allows two ADUs and one junior ADU per property.
'We have built over 5,000 ADUs under those constraints and we don't get protests on that. That's been a very successful program. It's only been these very big bonus ADU projects that have caused reaction from neighborhoods,' said Hueter.
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New reforms also include tighter regulations for high fire severity zones, not allowing bonus ADU projects if there is not at least two evacuation routes on a street.
This leaves questions for local residents about how these updated rules will affect existing projects.
Local group cautiously optimistic about reforms to ADUs in San Diego
Hueter believes 'since there is greater awareness of other regulations that apply to these developments, through potential legal action, there may be questions that are raised that either modify or in someway change those existing projects.'
A representative from the city's planning department says projects are reviewed based on what regulations are in place at the time their application is 'deemed complete.'
San Diego reconsidering ADU incentive: what this means
They go on to say, 'in accordance with California Government Code Section 65589.5(o)(2)(B), the City evaluates each project individually to determine whether newly adopted ordinances or policies should apply retroactively, specifically if there is potential for adverse impact on public health or safety.'
Should the ADU reforms be passed again during Tuesday's second reading, they then head to the mayor for his signature. Once that happens, the changes will take effect 30 days later.
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