Latest news with #NeighborsForABetterSanDiego
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
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. Clairemont neighbors file lawsuit against city, developers of 'bonus' ADU project 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local group cautiously optimistic about reforms to ADUs in San Diego
SAN DIEGO (FOX5/KUSI) — San Diego city leaders on Thursday agreed to move forward with a number of reforms to its accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations. Now, residents who have been fighting for the changes are cautiously optimistic. Talmadge is the birthplace of one group that has propelled the groundswell of opposition to how ADU construction has been carried out across the city in recent years, Neighbors for a Better San Diego. Paul Kreuger, who helped found the group, said it was created as a direct response to abnormally large ADU developments cropping up in backyards throughout the neighborhood, many permitted under the city's Bonus ADU program. 'This is what started the whole revolt against backyard apartments,' Kreuger said to FOX 5/KUSI outside a home where six units were constructed in its rear. 'Four years ago, a developer bought this single-family home, did not tell the truth to the seller, who didn't want this, said he was only going to build a little casita in the back.' San Diego to rename park after SDPD Officer Austin Machitar Kreuger lives near the development. He says is just one of many that have appeared in the neighborhood in the last few years. 'They've just gotten worse and worse,' he explained. 'Six is now gentle compared to eight, 10, 12, 16.' The ADUs popping up around town are the result of changes made by the city to bolster the housing supply in an effort to address the housing shortage. Specifically, opponents have criticized the city's ADU Bonus program, allowing developers to add an extra unit for each built that is deed-restricted for low-income and moderate-income households. Krueger says his group is not against ADUs more generally, rather they want tighter rules and caps on the number of units people are able to build on each lot. Nearly 200 people involved in the fight showed up to the City Council's Land Use and Housing Committee Thursday, when city leaders heard the proposed reforms to the regulations guiding ADU construction. The changes would exclude certain areas from the ADU Bonus program, place a two-story height limit on the developments, up the fine charged for developments that violate local laws and impose a seven-unit cap, depending on lot size. 'It tells you how widespread the anger is about a policy that's completely out of control,' Kreuger said. 'That's been exploited by developers and out of town investors.' After a six hour public comment, the committee passed the changes to the full City Council, which will hear it next month. Kreuger is hopeful what is on the table will help to address some of the program's problems, but he says he still would like to see city leaders limit the number of ADUs allowed on each lot even more — down to four. 'Then it would put our group out of business, and I can go back to my life,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
