HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDN 2017-08-28 COMPLETE AGENDA PACKETCity of Tukwila
Community Development &
Neighborhoods Committee
O Kathy Hougardy, Chair
O Verna Seal
O Kate Kruller
MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017 — 5:30 PM
HAZELNUT CONFERENCE ROOM
(At east entrance of City Hall)
Distribution:
Recommended Action
K. Hougardy
Mayor Ekberg
V. Seal
D. Cline
K. Kruller
C. O'Flaherty
D. Robertson
L. Humphrey
Item
Recommended Action
Page
1. PRESENTATION(S)
2. BUSINESS AGENDA
a. Update on Community Connectors.
a. Forward to 9/11 C.O.W.
Pg.1
Mia Navarro, Community Engagement Manager
b. Results of community survey on Accessory Dwelling
b. Forward to Planning
Units.
Commission for a
Pg.11
Nora Gierloff, Deputy Community Development Director
hearing in October.
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
4. MISCELLANEOUS
Next Scheduled Meeting: Monday, September 11, 2017
SThe City of Tukwila strives to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
Please contact the City Clerk's Office at 206-433-1800(TukwilaCityClerk@TukwilaWA.aov) for assistance.
City of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Community Development and Neighborhoods Committee
FROM: Mia Navarro, Community Engagement Manager
CC: Mayor Ekberg
DATE., August 21, 2017
asumm"HELIa. 7171=1
ISSUE
Tukwila's award-winning Community Connector program improves outreach to residents
historically underrepresented in civic processes by contracting with people from various
language, ethnic, and age groups to act as liaisons between their community and the City. The
program began in 2013, and since then, has undergone several staff changes among the
partner agencies. This is an update on the program to date, and ideas for the program going
forward,
BACKGROUND
Please see attached presentation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The annual budget for this program is $32,500. It is in the 2017-2018 budget
RECOMMENDATION
The Community Development and Neighborhoods Committee and Council are being updated
on the Community Connector program to date, and ideas for the program going forward.
This presentation is scheduled to go before the Committee of the Whole on September 11,
2017.
ATTACHMENTS
-Tukwila Community Connector Program August 2017 Update
W
Program began in 2013
2012 Strategic Plan Vision:
"City of Opportunity, Community of Choice`°
Partners: Forterra and Global to Local
Annual budget of $32,500
Up to ten Connectors
Ethnic and language communities, seniors and youth.
Two-fold:
Get information TO their respective communities
Get feedback FROM their respective communities
Represented communities since 2014: Bhutanese,
Burmese, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Latino, Nepali, Somali,
Vietnamese, Senior, and Youth Communities.
• 194 Surveys regarding the Comprehensive Plan
• Three Community Conversations with 130 participants
• Leadership Development for Connectors
• Built relationships with Police and Fire
• Community Event on Safety October, 2015
• Connectors spoke about the Comprehensive Plan,
specifically housing affordability, at a Council meeting and
wrote a letter to Council
• Program Update to Tukwila City Council
• Foster Career Day
• Disaster Preparedness Training
• Each shared what they learned with their community
• Leadership Development
• Public Safety Plan Training
• Public Safety Plan Open Houses
• SeeYou in the Park (7/26)
• 46 surveys about parks
Two projects per year
Contract supports up to 10 Connectors
Each Connector reaches out to 5-10 people, and they in
turn reach out to more people in their community...
Connectors receive small stipends
Most Connectors work full or part time
Limited capacity
Forterra provides training and event support
Global to Local manages relationships with the
Connectors and provides training and event support
2 Hispanic
2 Somali
1 Burmese
1 Ethiopian/Eritrean
1 Senior
iYouth
co
Rethinking intermediary
structure
Redeploying resources to
increase program capacity
More leadership training for
Connectors
Broader reach
More availability for
department needs
co
T
City of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
TO: Community Development and Neighborhoods
FROM: Jack Pace, DCD Director
BY: Nora Gierloff, Deputy DCD Director
CC: Mayor Ekberg
DATE: August 22, 2017
SUBJECT: Update to Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations
ISSUE
Should Tukwila modify its Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations to encourage
development of this housing type?
BACKGROUND
The City Council considered a variety of actions at their Housing Policy Work Session
this March. One of the items that the Council prioritized for policy consideration was an
update to Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) zoning standards to be followed by an
amnesty program for existing units.
Seattle's experience with loosening restrictions on ADUs and Portland's dramatic
increase in the number of ADUs built over the past few years have spurred a policy
debate about this housing type. An MRSC article about revising city regulations to
encourage accessory dwelling units from its Homelessness and Housing Toolkit is
included as Attachment A. A study discussing the mismatch between existing housing
stock and current demographic trends as well as the barriers to development of ADUs is
included as Attachment B. Public feedback during the Community Conversations
project showed support for well designed attached and detached ADUs, see Attachment
C.
Tukwila's current standards for ADUs are:
• Minimum lot size of 7,200 square feet,
• The ADU is no more than 33% of the square footage of the primary residence
and a maximum of 1,000 square feet, whichever is less,
• One of the residences is the primary residence of a person who owns at least
50% of the property,
• The unit is incorporated into the primary single-family residence, not a separate
unit, so that both units appear to be of the same design as if constructed at the
same time,
• Minimum of three parking spaces on the property with an ADU less than 600
square feet, and a minimum of four parking spaces for an ADU over 600 square
feet, and
• The ADU is not sold as a condominium.
DISCUSSION
Staff began public outreach and education about this issue in mid-July by developing a
survey about possible changes to current ADU standards. The intent was to give the
INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 2
Council a general sense of the public support for or opposition to the possible changes.
The survey was publicized through the following actions:
• See You in the Park Events — 7/12, 7/26, 8/9
• Flyers at Valley View Sewer and Public Safety Plan Open Houses
• Included on the public safety flyers distributed in multiple neighborhoods by
Communications
• Distributed to Planning Commission, City Council, Parks Commission, TIBAC, COPCAB,
Arts Commission, and Block Watch Captains
• Mailed/emailed information to the 468 single family and duplex landlords with rental
housing licenses
• Article in the July Tukwila Reporter
• Posted on the City's Facebook account
• Flyers at DCD, City Hall, TCC counters
• Emailed information to city residents who have expressed interest in neighborhood issues
We received 165 responses to the survey, see the results in Attachment D. Overall a
majority supported making changes to all of Tukwila's current standards, though for
some questions such as maintaining the owner occupancy requirement there was less
than a 10% spread.
Based on the feedback from the survey should changes to any of these standards be
removed from consideration? Should any new standards be added, such as limitations
on short term rentals (Air B&B)? A table comparing Tukwila's current ADU standards to
neighboring jurisdictions as well as Portland is included as Attachment E.
Begin allowing detached ADUs
a. Only if lot meets minimum area required in the zone
b. Not allowed if there is an attached ADU on site
c. Unit may be up to 800 square feet (must still meet maximum footprint for all
buildings of 2,275 sf and maximum impervious area of 4,875 sf for a 6,500 sf
lot)
d. Limit height to 25 feet or the height of the main house, whichever is lower
t. --• lot area requirement from 7,200 SF
a. ADUs allowed on lots that meet the minimum area for the zone, even if the
Low Density Residential standard were lowered from 6,500 SF to 6,000 SF in
the future
b. Same lot area standard for attached or detached ADUs
3. Attached ADU size limit
a. Unit could be up to half of the total square footage of the main house up to
1,000 SF, OR
b. Retain limitation of 1/3 of total square footage
4. Owner occupancy
a. An owner must occupy one of the units for at least 9 months of the year,
though this is very difficult to enforce, OR
12 Z:\Counb1 Agenda IternsOMADU Update�ADU InfoMerno 8-28 CDN,doc
INFORMATIONAL MEM*
Page 3
5. Parking I
a, Require 3 on-site parking spaces for lots with an ADU, 0
b. Continue to require 4 spaces if the ADU is over 600 sf
6. Short term rentals
a. Prohibit rentals of less than 30 days in LDR so that these units increase the
housing supply, though this is very difficult to enforce. OR
b. Allow Air B&B type rentals of ADUs to provide flexibility and a potential
income stream for property owners,
Next Steps
If the Council would like to proceed with revisions to the ADU standards the next step is
a Planning Commission hearing and recommendation. We would provide notice using
the email list of survey respondents who signed up for further information as well as
mailing a notice to all single family addresses. Based on the PC recommendation we
would return to Committee with a draft ordinance for Council review.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
In addition to modifying zoning code standards, much of the increase in ADU
development in Portland is attributed to waivers or reductions in impact and utility hook-
up fees for ADUs. Tukwila is served by multiple water, sewer and electricity providers
with different fee structures and capacity charges that are not subject to Tukwila control.
Tukwila also charges fire, traffic and parks impact fees and would need to decide if
detached ADUs would be treated as new single family residences, charged the multi-
family rate or not charged at all.
RECOMMENDATION
The Council is being asked to forward their chosen policy options to the Planning
Commission for a public hearing and recommendation, likely at their October meeting.
The issue could then return to the November 131h Community Development and
Neighborhoods meeting followed by a public hearing at the November 27th Committee
of the Whole and then full Council on December 4In
ATTACHMENTS
A. Revising city regulations to encourage accessory dwelling units — MRSC
Homelessness and housing toolkit for cities
B. Accessory Dwelling Units: A Flexible Free -Market Housing Solution
C. Community Conversation Visual Preference Result — Accessory Units Poster
D. ADU Survey Responses
E. ADU Standards Comparison
Z:1Councjl Agenda ltemsOCMADU Update�ADU InfoMemo 8-28 CDN.doc 13
I
Affordable housing
Revising city regulations to encourage
accessory dwelling units
Accessory dwelling units k40U$have
been around for decades. In many
parts ofWashington State, the concept
isaccepted and local governments
have revised their regulations to
accommodate such housing. Even
so, the number ofADUscreated in
accordance with local standards has
remained relatively low, due |npart
iothe difficulty |nmeeting those
regulations and the associated costs,
|nresponse, afew local governments
are re|ook|ngaktheir standards and
discussing how tomake them easier to
meet. The potential easing ofexisting
ADUregulations, however, |scausing
neighborhood homeowners totake
notice.
What is an accessory
dwelling unit (ADU)?
Anaccessory dwelling unit (ADU)
isasmall, self-contained residential
unit located onthe same lot asan
existing single-family home. They are
sometimes referred toas°mother-in-
|awapertments.'AnAUUhas all the
basic facilities needed for day-to-day
living independent nfthe main home,
such asakitchen, sleeping area, and a
bathroom,
16
There are two types of ADUs:
tAttached 4DW,which may be
created as either:
a Aseparate unit within anexisting
home (such asimanattic o/
basement); or
b.Anaddition to the home (such as
aseparate apartment unit with
its own entrance),
2. Detached AD0\created ina
separate structure onthek¢(such
asaconverted gaoageoranew
"backyard cottage"),
Reasons for allowing ADUs
State law UR[VV43,63A.215and R[VV
36.70A.400requires that certain cities
and counties adopt ordinances tu
encourage the development ofADUs
insingle-family zones, byincorporating
the model ordinance recommendations
prepared bythe Washington
Department of Commerce. |naddition
tojust meeting astatutory mandate,
however, ADUshave also helped
local jurisdictions meet their Growth
Management Act goals hmencourage
affordable housing and provide avariety
ofhousing densities and types, while
still preserving the character of single-
family neighborhoods. From a planning
perspective, |t}sconsidered bymany
tobea"kinder and gentler" method for
accommodating population growth |n
acommunity, oscompared toupzon|mg
land todmso.
U9
Standard ADU regulations
Most local ADUregulations have
standards toaddress the following
^
Maximum unit size
^
Owner -occupancy
^
Dedicated off-street parking
^
Attached ADOsonly
^
Maximum number o[dwelling units
unone lot
`
Separate entrances/only one visible
from the street
^
Other design standards (especially
for detached ADU$for such items
as roof pitch, window style, and
exterior material
^
Maximum number n(occupants
~
Minimum lot size
^
Building code and other ~Ufe/safety"
requirements
to reconsider ADU
requirements
Some local governments in Washington
State and elsewhere are reexamining
their "standard^ADUrequirements and
questioning the rationale behind them,
especially given the low production
rate ofnew accessory dwelling units.
Asaresult, some communities are
considering changes toADUregulations,
such as:
* Unit size: Most current ADU
standards set amaximum size (for
example, 00square feed'but some
communities are considering un
increase hotheir limit toprovide
more flexibility.
^ Om -site parking: Some local
governments are looking ac
areduction orelimination of
standards requiring on-site parking
spaces for the ADUsoccupants,
especially inareas where there
isadequate on -street parking.
Such achange may face stronger
opposition |nneighborhood where
street parking isatapremium.
`
Detached ADUs:Most codes
only allow attached ADUs,but
more communities are expanding
requ|obunstopermit detached
ADUs(which are usually required
hobeplaced |nthe back half ofa
residential |ot).Even |fallowed, the
high cost cfconstructing "backyard
cottages" may limit the number that
actually get built.
^ Most codes
require that the property owner
needs tooccupy either the primary
oraccessory unit, but some
communities (such asSeatt}e)
are considering removing this
requirement.
°
Allowing more than two dwelling
units: A^cuttivgedge' reg u<atory
change btoincrease themaximum
number ofdwelling units omasingle
family lot \othree (by allowing
one primary dwelling unit, one
ottachedADU and one detached
ADU).}nSeattle, the City Council
|scurrently considering proposed
code revisions that would include
anincrease tothree units onone lot.
Discussion about these types of
changes has caused anxiety for some
homeowners, who are concerned about
the impacts mnneighborhood character
and property values. Dothe other side
are affordable housing advocates who
consider changing existing regulations
axaway toeffectively increase the
number oflegal AQUs.
Regardless of how local governments
decide ioregulate them, ADUsmay
bemviable approach toaddress a
community's growth and affordable
housing policies |namanner that b
acceptable to residents (especially if they
112
consider the akernaUvey.just besure
regulations and development review
process aren't soburdensome that
property owners end upnot creating
these dwelling units orbuilding anADU
without obtaining the required permits.
Resources
Accessory Dwellings website
`
org
MRSC's Accessory Dwelling
-
Ukmfts: Issues & Options
publication
MRSC's Accessory Dwelling
Units and Affordable Housing
webpages
_ _
17
Ah Ah
♦
R STREET POLICY STUDY NO, 89
Warch 2017
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS -
HOUSING SOLUTION
Jonathan coppage
much of the American built environment was con-
structed in the post -World War 11 era, when gov-
ernment policy and planning fashion favored a
highly dispersed development model centered on
the primacy of the single-family detached home. Subsequent
developments in zoning law tended to further privilege and
protect the single-family detached home front any neighbor-
ing diversity of land use or building form.
As a pattern popularized at the peak of American nuclear
family formation, such models initially met consumer pref-
erences and served the needs of many. As the 20`i, century
progressed, however, American demographic patterns and
housing needs dramatically changed. The built environment
was, by this point, too calcified by accumulated land -use reg-
ulations to adapt to these changes, producing significant dis-
tortion in high -demand housing markets and unresponsive
legal environments across the country.
As housing supply constraints choke productivity in hot eco-
nomic regions, and household structure and demographics
continue to shift nationally, significant public -policy debates
have been opened about the appropriate responses to these
developments. These range from debates over national
entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare to
battles over gentrification in urban centers. The political
disputes often are characterized by high tempers and little
perceptible progress.
While these important, high-intensity debates continue,
(here is opportunity simultaneously to pursue lo%ver-profile
solutions that could alleviate pressure on the market, even
if they cannot provide complete resolution to all of its prob-
lenm One supplemental policy priority would be to ease sig-
nificantly existingobstacles to the construction and permit-
ting of accessory dwelling units in single-family residential
zones.
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is defined as "a second-
ary dwelling unit xvith complete independent living facili-
ties for one or more persons" on a single-family lot, wheth-
er attached to the primary structure, detached from it or
contained within it.' ADUs commonly are referred to by a
wide variety of less formal names, including "granny flat,"
"mother-in-law suite," "carriage house secondary unit"
and "backyard cottage.",
ADUs, then, are dependent apartments built onto otherwise
typical single-family homes. They are often created by means
of gat -age conversion, basement finishing, wing addition or
even as free-standing construction behind a house. A fully
independent ADD will contain its own entrance and full
kitchen and bathroom facilities; it may even have separate
1. CaWotma Departrneri> Housing and Community Development, "Accessory Dwell-
ing Unik Memorandum," Dearnber 2016
R STREET POLICY STUDY; 2017 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS: A FLEXIBLE FREE- MARKET HOUSING SOLUTION I
W.
and independent utility metering. While there was signifi-
cant scholarly interest in ADUs in the 1980s, it waned until
recent years, leaving relative shortage of studies of and data
on the current state of secondary units. Filling the inforil
tional gap could prove especially difficult, given the large
proportion of secondary units that exist as illegal conver-
sions, without permits or official recognition in government
databases. One 2001 study estimated that fully one in five San
Francisco residential buildings included an illegal secondary
unit" and that supply -constrained coastal cities could expect
2 to 10 percent of their housing stock tone illegal Secondary
units.
The ADD is starting to recover attention, as demographic
shifts also lead many groups to revisit accessory dwelling
units as an option for the increasing number of multigen-
erational households. There are any number of causes of this
trend, including the aging of the baby boomer generation,
a persistent "boomerang" young adult cohort, and growth
in the Hispanic and Asian populations, Moreover, housing
shortages in hot urban markets have raised interest in cre-
ative means to expand supply.
Before accessory dwelling units can be brought to bear on
those challenges, however, there is a need to popularize and
pass significant reforms to accommodate this flexible, free-
market solution.
BRIEF HISTORY OF ZONING
The basic tenets of American zoning were set by the raid -
1930s, which is also when the federal government began
to provide assistance to the detached single-family house
as an ideal base for American life) In the postwar period,
the relatively simple and compact single-family zoning pat-
tern—originally designed to protect residential neighbor-
hoods front noxious industrial activity—wvas expanded and
complicated, with explicit federal housing policies that rein-
forced single-family housing on ever larger lots with rapidly
diminishing tolerance of diversiry. Zoning shifted from pro-
hibiting industrial and commercial development in residen-
tial zones to prescribing the shape and structure that resi-
dential housing could take within those already protected
neighborhoods.
As University of Chicago's Emily Talen wrote in her book
City rules, "The zoning changes of one small town in central
Illinois, Urbana, home of the University of Illinois, illustrate
2, George Wdliam, Secondary Units A Painless Way to Increase the SuQPIy of Hous -
mu", Sao F (ancisco Planning and Urban Research Association. Aoqu,;t 2001
Sonia Hirr2ooedir) the USA,
Reg dation Cornell University Ness, Is, 32, 2014
the traditional progression."' As she recounts, Urbana's first
zoningordinance was passed in 1936, but there were no inin-
itnum lot widths and no lot areas were required per Unit until
1950. In 1950, six zones were introduced, two each for resi-
dential, commercial and industrial uses. By 1979, however, 16
districts and two overlay zones had been introduced, apart-
ments in single-family areas were banned, and minimum lot
sizes and floor -area ratio rules were brought into effect.
The introduction of a few zoning regulations metastasized
into a narrowly prescriptive regime that, as Sonia Hirt
described in Zoned in the USA, "has exceeded historic and
international precedent to build what may well be the low-
est -density settlements in the history ofthe world [emphasis
original]."'
America's hyperdispersed, land -use -segregated settlement
pattern is functional for adults who drive cars but the car-
less are significantly inhibited from accessing any activities
or areas other than the ones in their immediate neighbor-
hood. Functionally, this prevents nondriving children from
contributing to the household byrunning errands to corner
store, for instance, in addition to placing severe limits on the
independence of elderly adults who no longer drive."
The recently observed recovery of multigenerational house-
holds and parallel decline of intact nuclear families takes
place, then, in a regulatory environment rigidly designed
for a very different population. As Reilian Salam has written:
Since the initial rise of the suburbs, families have
changed. Married couples with children have fallen
from 42.9 percent of all households in 1.940 to 20.2
percent of all households in 2010, while married cou-
ples without children have fallen from 33.4 to 28.2
percentof all households. Single -parent families have
also increased, of course, from 43 percent to 9,6 per-
cent. The most dramatic change has been the steep
increase in one-person households, front 7.8 to 26.7
percent of the total. Families have also been trans-
formed by rising female labor force participation,
with worsen now serving as the sole or primary wage
earner in four in 10 U.S. households with children....
Viewed through this lens, the problem we face is clear: Much
of our built environment still bears the imprint of the post-
war era, despite the fact that the families that were charac-
teristic of that era are no longer dominant'
4Emily Talen, City Rules, Island Press, Pr,, 120.2, 2012,
5. Hirl, D 28.
6� Aodr(!s Duany. F1,zabotn Plater-7ybe4k, and J0, f Spec, Suburban Notion Me Rise of
North Point Press, pl15.2000,
7, Reihan Scilarn, "How the SLjbkjrt)s Got Poor,` Slate, Sept- 4,2014, q,,_
R STREET POLICY STUDY: 2017 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS: A FLEXIBLE FREE-MARKET HOUSING SOLUTION 2
19
BENEFITS OF ADUS
Rental income
According recent Oregon study of Portland ADUs, the larg-
est primary motivation among ADU developers was addi-
tional income.' By converting part of a house, building an
addition or constructing a free-standing unit, homeowners
were able to create a supplementary stream of income for
themselves, while adding housing„ to the constrained market.
The great majority of this additional income comes via long-
term rentals: Atlanta architect Eric Kronberg estimates that,
when lie constructs AMUS for his market under current reg-
ulatory conditions, they can reasonably command rents of
$950 to $1400 1 month. By contrast, "you have an all in cost
of $550-$715 a month. The two bedroom unit would range
5700-$900 all -in," both of which are estimated very conser-
vatively assuming entirely home equity financed, no cash
projects. This means Atlanta ADUs could pay for their own
financing while providing a homeowner with hundreds of
dollars in additional income per month. Most impressively,
Kronberg's projections are for detached ADU prototypes,
which are much more expensive to produce than attached
ADUs that come from conversions or additions on an exist-
ing building."
In the Portland study, 80 percent of ADUs rented for mar-
ket rates comparable to those in multifamily development.
However, between 13 and 18 percent of Portland ADUs go
for zero or very low rents. In a separate study, University of
California researchers Jake Wegrnann and Karen Chapple
likewise found 17 percent of San Francisco Bay Area ADUs
were occupied for zero rent,"' As Martin J. Brown and.for-
dan Palmeri note in the Portland study, this pattern "sug-
gests some unique phenomenon is occurring in ADU devel-
opments." Indeed, in that same survey, "owners reported that
26 percent of ADU tenants were family or friends when they
moved in." This would indicate that a small but significant
fraction of ADU development is, indeed, intended for per-
sonal relariom hips, as planners and advocates have tradi-
tionally assurned.
The Portland study also marked an interesting departure
from earlier studies when it came to its findings on afford-
ability. According to Brown and Palmeri, Portland ADU rents
were market competitive with comparable rental apartments
8 Martin J. Brown and jordan Pairneri, 'Accessory Dwelling Units rn Pcirtlancl, Ofogor,
Evaluation and interpretation of a Survey of ADU Owners," Oregon Department
of Environwiental Quality, June 1, 2014,
9, Eric Kronberg, "ADU Math," Kronberg Wall, Veb 24 2017,
10.lake Wegm3nn and Karen Chapple. "Understanding the Market for Secondiify
Units ir) the East Bay," IURD Working Paper Series, October 2012 i
only if zero -rent units were included; they actually rented for
a premium if those outliers were excluded. Previous stud-
ies had indicated that ADUs were cheaper than comparable
rentals. Brown and Palmieri tried to adjust market compara-
bles by unit size via the number of bedrooms. In their report
on the Bay Area, 'Wiegman and Chapman did not attempt to
adjust for unit sizes, but noted that the ADUs were smaller
than their market cornparables, as well as often beingunper-
mitted.
Taken at face value, the Portland results could undermine
the perception of ADUs as an inherently affordable housing
solution. Although the results certainly indicate a need for
further study, such reasoning should be tempered by a robust
u nderstanding of the ADU context. ADUs are more expert -
sive to build Icer -square -foot, which could partially explain
why owners would demand higher rents per -square -foot.
III general, due to their smaller unit sizes, ADUs should occu-
py the lower end of the rental spectrum. As an NYU Fur-
man Center working paper noted: "Micro -units [ADUs and
compact apartments] in many cities frequently rent at rather
high rates per square foot, but at lower total monthly rent
levels, than larger apartments."" In this sense, ADUs remain
a source of affordable housing;•. Iia supply -constrained hous-
ing markets, any production of additional dwelling; space will
help ease rental market pressure, and production of low total
rent units is all the more welcome.
Further, as Brown and Palmieri note, the zero and below-
market rents that are presumably charged to family members
or friends should not be dismissed. Voluntarily discounting
rent to those with whom the propertyowner has pre-existing
relationships is still a provision of affordable housing. Where
the housing is provided to elderly relations who might other-
wise require costly personal care, it also represents a poten-
tially large government savings, Rejoining multiple genera-
tions in close living arrangements allows for child care of -
eldercare to be provided by the family, instead of relying on
expensive market services. Such arrangements can benefit
the whole family by strengthening their relationships and
shared experiences. Anecdotally, children can benefit from
the experience of elders in quilting, crafting or carpentry.
Elders, meanwhile, sometimes can benefit from younger
gencrations'g,reater familiarity with maintaining and navi-
gating each new wave of domestic technology.
further study of ADU rents would bring welcome clarity.
For the great majority of homeowners who plan to rent
their 21])U at market -competitive rents, ADUs can provide
ft Vicki Been, Banj,)rnarr Gross. and John Infranca, "Resporlding to Clianging House-
t,olds. Regulatory Challenges for Micro -Units and Accessory Dwelling Unit;," NYU
FuTman Center, January 2014, mlr;LF,
R STREET POLICY STUDY: 2017 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS: A FLEXIBLE FREE-MARKET HOUSING SOLUTION 3
9"A
,4•J'
reliable stream of additional income which should, in most
circumstances, pay for itself.
Multigencrational housing
Almost one -in -five Americans now live in multigeneration-
al household, according to a recent Pew analysis of U.S. Cen-
sus Bureau data." That is a record absolute number and the
highest proportion of the American population since 1950.
Once a near -universal feature of the American lifecycle in the
rmid-1911 century, the proportion of households living with
multiple adult generations had been declining since 1860,
with more than half the collapse in multigenerational living
occurring between 1940 and 1980,"
ADUs are often preferred for multigenerational living
arrangements because they allow family members to share
a residence, assist each other in day-to-day tasks and share
a life without erasing all boundaries between the primary
household and the additional generation. When equipped
with independent entrances and kitchen units, residents
of ADUs are able to maintain a modicum of independence,
coming and going as they please and entertaining their own
guests, while still remaining tightly bound to their fanifly.
The AARP has advocated for relaxation of rules around
accessory dwelling units in order to accommodate a desire
among its members (current and prospective) to "age in
place" whenever possible. Expanded ADU capability allows
older Americans either to move into their children's homes
or to construct a more modest apartment that suits their
needs. Toward that end, the AARP in 2000 commissioned
the American Planning Association to draft an ADU "model
state act anti local ordinance,""
Older Americans are not, however, the largest consumer
of multigenerational housing today. In 2014, more 18 -to -
34 -year-olds lived with their parents than in other arrange-
ments for the first time in 130 years,", and 31 percent of
25 -to -29 -year-olds lived in multigenerational households.
The persistence of the millennial generation living rat home,
even as the econornyornerged from the Great Recession, has
been a topic cf great concern and headlines. For the pur-
12, D Veira Cohn and Je`frey S. Passel "A Record 60.6 Americans uve in Multigenera-
tional HOUSOOICJS," Pew RC1S0arCf1 Center, Aug, 11, 2016,
j
13 Steven Ruggles, "Multigenerational ParntFes in Nineteenth Century America,'
Continuity and Chifncje, 18 139-165, 2003
14 Rodney L, Cobb and Scott Dvoraf, 'Acccssory Dwelling Wits Model Slate Art arld
Local Order ante;' AARP, April 200
15 Richard Fry, 'For First Time if, Modern Era, Living Witt', Parents Edges out Other
Livmg Arrangormit5 for IS- to 34-Year-01ds," Pcvv Research Cenler, May 2x1.2016.
. .. . ..... .
poses of this paper, it is enough to note simply that the trend
exists and seems likely to continue, thus further addingto the
number of multigenerational homes and potential demand
for ADUs.
Finally, ethnic demographic patterns also suggest that mul-
tigenerational housing will continue to grow in the United
States. As Pew found, Asian and Hispanic household,,; both
are significantly more likely to be multigenerational than
non -Hispanic white households. Both of those subgroups
are experiencingsignificant population growth.
Fiexit)jhi y
In Brown and, Palmeri's study, only about 80 percent of Port-
land ADUs were occupied as independent housing. The rest
served as some combination of extra space, home offices or
other nonresidential use: 11 percent of units were used as a
work or living space, while 5 percent were used for short-
term rentals,"'
Short-term rentals are one of the most interesting alterna-
tive uses for ADUs going forward, as the recent explosion
of room and homesharing services like Airbrib and VRBO
make it easier for homeowners to find short-term tenants for
their properties, and the independence of ADUs make l
particularly well-suited for such service. The Portland study
was conducted in 2013, relatively early in the growth of such
services. It would be interesting to update the survey to see
how short -team -rental use has grown.
OBSTACLES TO ADU DEVELOPMENT
The single biggest obstacle to ADU development is their
widespread illegality. Burdensome regulatory requirements
often will depress ADU production, even where zoning
codes theoretically allow them, in order to allow ADUs to
serve as a flexible, free-market solution to ease pressures in
supply -constrained housing markets, such regulatory bur-
dens need to be lifted. Such regulations fall into two broad
categories: structural and occupancy.
S1l'Llf-,tLlral 1"CgU1,,Jti0J1S
Structural regulations regulate the size, shape and facilities
of an ADU, as well as its connection to the broader city util-
ity netivorks,
As with many other forms of housing production, miningurn
parking requirements can be a significant obstacle to ADU
Production. While COMP10titiOn for on -street parking is one
of the most frequently cited concerns and complaints about
16. Brown and Palwen, 2014.
R STREET POLICY STUDY: 2017 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS: A FLEXIBLE FREE-MARKET HOUSING SOLUTION 4
21
ADUs, imposed off-street requirements arc often excessive
and counterproductive.
Until 2015, for instance, Austin, Texas combined onerous
parking requirements (two spots each for both the main
dwelling and the accessory unit) and an impervious surface
cap. if the main dwelling was built before off-street park-
ing requirements, the construction of an ADU would cost
the property its grandfathered status, meaning four park
-
ingspots would have to be built for one accessory unit to be
constructed. As the Furman Center noted, "built structures
may not cover more than 40 percent of a lot, and the combi-
nation of structures and any other impervious surfaces may
not exceed 45 percent of the lot," Since any parking space is
counted as impervious surface regardless of its construction
material, Austin homeowners could easily have a hard time
fitting everything onto their lots even if they were willing to
corn ply.17 Encouragingly, the Austin City Council adopted a
much liberalized ADU system in November 2015, with very
light parking requirements, a standard minimum lot size and
nearly citywide applicability."
Portland does not require any off-street parking for ADUs,
so it should be most vulnerable to street parking overcrowd-
ing. Yet the city's 2013 survey found that one in five ADUs
had no cars associated with it whatsoever, and 63 percent
had no cars parked on the street. The mean number of cars
parked on the street associated with ADUs was a mere 0.46.
These findings are similar to results of the Bay Area study
in 2012. While these are necessarily limited results, they
should encourage cities to loosen or relieve their own park-
ing requirements in the set -vice of ADU production.
ADUs are also subject to a variety of size regulations: mini-
mum and maximum unit sizes; minimum and maximum
ratio Of Unit -to -main -dwellings; minimum and maximum
ratio of unit -to -lot -size. All of these can vary by whether the
ADU is attached or detached. Attempts to build ADUs can
be subject to regulations that bar the construction of kitchen
facilities in secondary units, as well as restrictions on inde-
pendent entrances, Some governments restrict where ADUs
can be placed on a lot, whether it or its entrance can be vis-
ible from the street and whether the unit's architectural
design is required to match the main dwelling. While reason-
able regulations can be inciffensive, cities should take care to
set their minimum or maximum levels within the bounds of
normal ADU production, and to give homeowners as much
flexibility as possible-"
17, Been, Cross aria Infranca, 2014
18, Jennifer Curington, 'Austin City Council lessens restricuor's On acxossoty dwelling
units,' Commun,ty irripact, Nov, 19, 2015,
19, California Dcpariment of Housing and Community Dmiopment, 2016.
Finally, city services fees and regulations can pose an over-
whelmingand unreasonable burden to the development of
accessory units where they are not tailored appropriately.
Portland chose to give financial relief to A17U construction
bywaivingthe systerns development charges (SDCs) usually
imposed to pay for utility and other public-service impacts.
Such charges average around $8,000 for ADUs, which
explains why the city's reprieve began a significant ADU
boom. Ultimately, the waiver was extended. Even without
opting for a full waiver, cities can -adjust their SDCs for the
true impact of accessory units, which will be dramatically
less than other new Construction.
Under normal conditions, extending utility services like
water, sewer, electricity and gas should be relatively pain-
less for accessory unit construction, as most of the fixed
costs have already been built for the main dwelling. Cities
that require separate utility metering; can quickly undermine
this advantage and even make ADUs outright uneconomical.
Arcliirects Newspaper reports that, in Austin, separate water
metering alone can cost a builder $20,000.-'0
Local governments often discourage ADU production by
prohibiting; qualities that would make them attractive and
usable as an independent dwelling unit. This can include
restrictions on independent entrances and the visibility of
those entrances from the street. Often, they will include
prohibitions on kitchen facilities, in Atlanta, for instance,
ADUs are permitted but they cannot possess a stove, oven
or similar cooking -appliance- The most cooking capability
occupants can hope for under code is a hot plate they can
plug in, These barriers are best removed whenever possible,
as they give homeowners more flexibility in how they can use
their ADU over its life span, and so will make their produc-
tion more attractive.
Occupancy i esirichons
Occupancy regulations regulate who may stay in ADUs and
what their relationship to the property's owner may be.
A frequent and significant ADU regulation requires owner
occupancy of the property. ADU construction is, in fact, usu-
ally undertaken by homeowners occupying the property, so
this requirement often is presented as hearing limited nega-
tive consequences. According to the NYU Furman Center
report, owner occupancy is seen by advocates as a shortcut to
prevent more detailed and onerous restrictions and inspec-
tions from being imposed on ADU development. in this rea-
soning, an owner -occupant's presence assures against ADU
tenants inflicting nuisances on the surrounding neighbor-
hood. Because the owner -occupant is a neighbor, he or she
20. Jack Murphy, "As housing (Ost.s and economic segregatfor, incroaFe, Austin's
qr<lnny nats proverate, rhe Arch)teets Wwspaper Sept. 12, 2016, j,
R STREET POLICY STUDY: 2017 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS: A FLEXIBLE FREE-MARKET HOUSING SOLUTION 5
22
would be more likely to SUPCI'ViSC and head Offany nuisances
than an absewee landlord would. Those building ADUs in
order to accommodate family or friends would seem to have
even less reason to object to such laws.
But owner -occupancy restrictions have the potential to
impede ADU financing and homeowner flexibility signifi-
cantiv. As the NYU Furman Center report notes: "Lenders
may fear that, if they foreclose on the property, they will be
unable to rent both the primary residence and the ADU,"
resulting in less favorable financing or outright opposition.
Homeowners may also face difficulty selling; their own home,
as the house and ADU bear restrictions lacked byconipetifive
properties, such as duplexes. They would thus be unable to
recoup the full value of their property should a nonresiden-
tial buyer be interested. This comes on top of what Brown
and Watkins identify asan already significant gap in apprais-
al practices that often prevents ADUs from being measured
appropriately in home valuation."
Furthermore, while ADUs are usually constructed by own-
er -occupants with owner occupancy in mind, they are most
attractive when they can accommodate a variety of contin-
gencies. Young retirees who build an ADU intending to live
with fan-fily or move into the smaller unit and rent out the
bigger house may find themselves in need of more profes-
sionalized care than is available in most home settings. The
family they were planning to live with may need to move. it)
any of these conditions, the house would shift from an asset
to a liability, as the property owner would be precluded by
the owner -occupancy restrictions from renting; out both the
main house and the accessory unit. They would be forced to
either leave the house vacant and unattended, or to sell it.
Furthermore, as the NYU Furman Center roundtable partici-
pants noted, ADU owner -occupancy would, in many cases,
introduce a unique restriction to properties. There generally
are no such restrictions banning owners of a Single-family
home from renting it to others, and duplex units rarely come
so bound either." Portland, Oregon, has one of the stron-
gest ADU development markets in the country, and notably
lacks an owner -occupancy requirement. Such liberalization
is fairly rare, however, as owner -occupant requirements are
widespread.
In some cases, governments considering ADU legalization
want to go even further, and restrict to whom the property
can be rented, or whether it can be rented at all. Most often,
these restrictions come in the formofreqUiringADUoccu-
pants to be related to the homeowner for the unit to be used
21 Mar0r, John Btowri and Taylor Walkms, ' Undetslanding and Appraising Propodlos
with Accessory DwOling Units," rhe Appraisaldourrial, Fali 2012,
22 Been, Gros, and infranca, 2014.
a,
. s a residence. Total or near-total rental bans are likely to
chill the construction of ADLJs significantly and foreclose
any of the benefits they provide.
SHORT-TERMl RENTALS
ADUs are interesting platforms to evaluate with regard
to short-term rentals, both because of their natural suit-
ability to the use and because even ADU advocates some-
times are made uncomfortable by the use. Because ADUs
are independent dwelling units, they have the potential to
be nacre appealing to some renters and homeowners who
prefer not to live quite as intimately with visiting strangers.
Because ADUs are dependent, they share any neighborhood
attractiveness equally with their primary dwellings. ADUs
equipped with kitchen, allow renters to cook for themselves,
which may be a particular advantage in the eyes of short-
term renters, who are more likely than hotel guests to stay
for multiple days.,,
For advocates who see AI)U growth as a provision of afford-
able housing and a relief valve on constrained regional sup-
ply, the seem i ng diversion of ADU stock, into short-term rent-
als is feared to be a distraction, or even counterproductive. In
tourism -heavy cities, some voice concerns about residential
neighborhoods hollowing Out in community and character
as owner -occupied residences convert into short=term rental
pads with a constantly rotating cast of characters." Santa
Cruz, California, which has been one of the most aggressive
cities in liberalizing its ADU regulations and promotingADU
production recently revised its laws specifically to outlaw
ADLJ Short-term rentals going forward.'' Austin's new, more
liberal ADU law restricts short-term rental of ADUs to 30
nights a year, and prohibits it on properties that aren't occu-
pied by the owners,"'
Survey respondents have said that one of the central appeals
of AI)U construction is then- flexibility.'' Though the upfront
costs are considerable for a homeowner, they can justify that
investment by the ADU's potential to bring in additional
income; to use as a home office or extra living space for a
growing family; or to be used by adult family members as
needed. Short-term rental services can expand that flexibil-
ity further by not requiring homeowners to lock their ADU
23, Andre Moylan, RoorTlscoro 2016 Short-term. rental requiatior tn U , dtjos,'
R Sifeer. Institute, March 16, 2016
24, Matfiri Jobn Brown provides one of We bet;l detailed corwderat;onsof these
25, City of Santa Cru?, Ordinance No 2015-15, Nov 10, 2015,
26, Jentifter Cunngton, 2015,
27 Brown and Palmeri, 2014,
11 STREET POLICY STUDY: 2017 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS: A FLEXIBLE FREE-MARKET HOUSING SOLUTION 6
23
into a long-term lease, but rather to use it for income pur-
poses on an as -needed basis.
SPECIAL CHALLENGES
In contrast to almost all other housing production and con-
struction, ADUs are primarily built by homeowners, not pro-
fessional developers. While professionals generally regard
regulatory compliance costs to be expected, if often frustrat-
ing, homeowners tryingto build accessory units are unlikely
to have Much familiarity with the permitting and corapli-
,nice process. Cities looking to take advantage of accessory
dwelling unit production will need to make their process as
transparent and easily navigable as possible.
Toward this end, Santa Cruz, California produced an "ADU
Manual" that offers step-by-step instructions to complete
the ADU permitting and construction process successfully.
Santa Cruz also maintains a set of draft architectural plans
to get interested homeowners started, and even goes so far
as to offer financing assistance for those willing to commit to
renting the unit at affordable rates for 15 to 20 years.
Portland, Oregon, meanwhile, has maintained a relatively
libertarian regulatory environment, relieving homeowners
from having to forecast for and navigate parking require -
men is, owner occupancy rules, or many other often- imposed
constraints. it ,dlows widespread buildingufADUs by right,
so homeowners are not required to convene public hearings
on the subject of planned construction on their property.
Local governments that desire to take advantage of accessory
dwell ing un its should take care to write their codes and poli-
cies into as easily accessible a format as possible, and make
that information widely available.
CO NCL U S 10 N
At a time when many housing markets are experiencing
severe supply constraints and housing affordability is under
stress nationwide, accessory dwelling unit legalization rep
resents a low -profile free-market solution that requires little
from government actors beyond getting out of the way. Pro-
duction is undertaken by private actors on their own prop-
erty, and
rop-
erty'and diversifies a local housing -stock without introduc-
ing large potentially contentious or character -transforming
multifamily buildings to a single family neighborhood. Thi.s,
incremental infill farther empowers homeowners by allow-
ing them to increase the value of their property and receive
an additional income stream. it offers renters more neigh-
borhood options and cheaper rents.
While there are federal -level financing reforms that could
further ease ADU development, local governments usually
have all the tools they need to take advantage of ADU con-
struction without asking permission or seeking assistance
from any higher bureaucracy. Reforming outdated zoning
systems to accommodate the changing needs of American
households, includingthe return of multigenerational living
arrangements, should be an urgent priority. Such reforms
should take care not to introduce new and unnecessary regu-
lations, such as owner -occupancy requirements and short-
term rental bans. These could chill the market's response to
ADU legalization.
Accessoiw dwelling units will not solve housing affordabil-
ity crises by themselves, nor will they be suited to wide-
spread adoption in every market. But there is little reason
for towns and cities to persist in outlawing a flexible housing
form that was widespread in the first half of the 201" century,
just because it fell afoul of trendy regulations in tho second
half. The American built environment was notably adaptable
throughout the growing country's many changes up until the
postwar land use codes were imposed and accumulated. Giv-
en the significant national changes still unfolding, land-LISC
and building regulations need to provide as much adaptabil-
ity and flexibility as cities can provide. Legalizing; accessory
dwelling units should be a simple way to engage that process.
�m j�!, 2 1 ' n4 r
R STREET POLICY STUDY: 2Ot7 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS: A FLEXIBLE FREE-MARKET HOUSING SOLUTION 7
24
A *MCM4 howthqcoag sIMAMOd *T d6WCh*d 40 a houbc
uqmda as" as M" L%d*p*"' Mu"A.
OUSt IAbA4d � ft dh*PM M AkA 141 gUn.
A
Like the most: 22% (8)
Like the least: 78% (28)
Like the most: 94% (16)
Like the least: 6% (1)
Like the most: 82% (23)
Like the least: 18% (5)
Like the most: 71% (12)
Like the least: 29% (5)
Like the most: 4% (2)
Like the least: 96% (52)
Like the most: 87% (13)
Like the least: Mal (2)
Like the most: 71% (12)
Like the least: 29% (5)
Like the most: 100% (26)
Like the least: M (0)
25
W
ADU Changes
SurveyMonkey
Q1 Should the City reduce the minimum lot size required to build an ADU
from 7,200 square feet to the minimum lot size in the Low Density
Residential Zone, 6,500 square feet?
Answered: 165 Skipped: 0
Yes - make the
change
No - keep this
the same
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes - make the change
No - keep this the same
TOTAL
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
RESPONSES
63,03%
36,97%
# OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)
DATE
1 Make the change to include SMALLER propertiesfl!
7/23€2017 9:37 PM
2 What percentage of Tukwila lots would be effected?
712212017 3:15 PM
3 Who cares what a person decides to build on their property as lomg as it doesn't create a health
7/21,12017 4:07 PM
hazard to their neighbors?
4 Why allow two houses on one LDR lot when present PRD is 5525SF. Poor choice for housing infil.
7/20/2017 6:10 PM
5 By changing the lot size and allowing an ADU Low Density Residential zoning in Tukwila would
7/18/2017 5:46 PM
virtually cease to exist- Two homes on 6,500 square feet is what I would consider High Density for
a single family home neighborhood,
6 If is quality and number of residents is regulated and distance from neighbors property
7/18/2017 4:26 PM
7 Tukwila should also reduce all residental lots sizes to 6,,000 square feet from 6,500.
7/18/2017 2:06 PM
8 Minimum lot size should be dependent on if ADU is attached or detached, 6500 for attached- 7200
7/17,12017 11:05 PM
for detached.
9 If the ADU is attached to the house, or above a detached garage, 6500 sq ft would be ok. Keep
7/17,12017 11:44 AM
the same if detached (backyard cottages) are allowed (although I would not like backyard
cottages).
1/15
104
61
165
27
ADU Changes
SurveyMonkey
Q2 Should the City allow detached ADUs, like backyard cottages, th
are not part of the main house? i
Yes - make the
change
No - keep this
the same
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes - make the change
No - keep this the same
TOTAL
Answered: 161 Skipped: 4
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
RESPONSES
77,02%
22,98%
# OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)
DATE
1 It should depend on the size of the lot
7/31/2017 8:40 PM
2 Yes if lot coverage remains the same as it is now.
7/25/2017 6:22 PM
3 Please, allow this! Housing is SUCH a struggle for this county. We need more options!!
7/23/2017 9:37 PM
4 Shouldn't a person be allowed to house their mother-in-law without having her live in their house?
7/21/2017 4:07 PM
5 Owner s choice , can be either backyard cottages or detached AUD
7120/2017 7:42 PM
6 City Council should have their heads examined for spending money on a suspicious idea. Instead
7/20/2017 6:10 PM
of one rental property their will be two. Where is the benefit for the community.
7 This could be useful for certain people, but not appropriate for all—,overall this may be a good
7/19/2017 8:15 AM
solution to certain circumstances., bad for others.
8 This is the most important change.
7/18/2017 7:25 PM
9 One house pure lot.
7/18/2017 5A6 PM
10 No rehab or halfway houses, etc.
7/18/2017 4:26 PM
11 Much additional affordable housing is needed.
7/1 8/201 7 2:06 PM
12 Design should reflect design of original/main home anftr neighborhood,
7/17/2017 11'.05 PM
13 Yes, but lot square footage should be more compared to ALUs.
7/17/2017 3:01 PM
14 Would not mind if an ADU was above, the garage even if the garage is not attached to the house.
7/17/2017 11:44 AM
Would not like to see 2 homes on 1 lot,
2/15
W
124
37
161
ADU Changes
SurveyMonkey
Q3 Should the City allow detached ADUs to be up to 800 square '® n1l
mYtter the size of the main house?
Yes - make the
change
No - keep this
the same
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes - make the change
No - keep this the same
TOTAL
10
13
14
Answered: 159 Skipped: 6
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
RESPONSES
67.92%
32.08%
OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)
DATE
900 sf
8/1/2017411 PM
Could even be bigger that 800 sf
8/112017 4:04 PM
I'm not aware of the current square footage.
7/31/2017 4:09 PM
I would want t know why 800?
7/2612017 7.49 AM
No. Maximum lot coverage established should remain the same. See above.
7/25/2017 6122 PM
650 sft
7/23/2017 1:02 PM
800 square feet is enough to provide an nice living space for a relative.
7/21/2017 4:07 PM
8 x 10 is not very big...
7/19/2017 8:15 AM
Would I be happy if an 800 sq ft building went up in my neighbors backyard, No! Would he be
7/18/2017 5:46 PM
happy if one went up in my backyard? No. Why create all that unhappiness?
For scale and blending, it should be a percentage of the existing structure and some ratio of the lot
7/17/2017 4:00 PM
size. Maybe up tp, 1000 sqft.
Unless it's above a garage and the garage is 800 sq ft, then ADU would be ok at 800 sq ft.
7/17/2017 11:44 AM
I would suggest approximately the size of a generous studio, I am not sure what that would equate
7/14/2017 6:10 PM
to but I am thinking maybe 600 -600 sq feet?
And also 800 Sqf should not include the parking space.
7/14/2017 1124 AM
Detached should be smaller.
7/13/2017 9:10 AM
3/15
108
51
159
29
ADU Changes
SurveyMonkey
Q4 Should the City allow attached ADUs to be up to half the square
footage of the house rather than the current limit of one third?
Answered: 159 Skipped: 6
Yes - make the
change
No - keep this
the same
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes - make the change
No - keep this the same
TOTAL
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
RESPONSES
60.38%
39.62%
# OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)
1 Pay extra costs
2 If it meets other lot dimension requirements
3 Depends on how big the house and lot is.
4 Not sure - maybe up to half with a cap on the total sq. I'L
5 Is the City worried about over crowding when it is building a monstrosity of a low income housing
unit near the SouthCenter Mall?
6 AUDs should be allowed Lip half the sq footage of the main house
7 Only If the ADU is on a 7200SF lot, then and only then could ADU be 1000SF,
8 Yes, up to 800 sf max
9 This creates a duplex,
10 a single amount seems better, so an adu could be the limit of 800 square feet
11 Lot size should be a factor making sure the structure does not cover the entire lot. Scale scale a
consideration.
12 Most homes would not allow up to half of the square footage, but for those that can, we feel it
should be allowed.
4/15
30
DATE
8%1/20174:08 PM
7/26/2017 7:49 AM
7/2512017 6-22 PM
7/22/2017 12:11 PM
712112017 4:07 PM
712012017 7A2 PM
712 012017 6:10 PM
7/1812017 9:34 PM
7/18/2017 5:46 PM
7/17(2017 4:30 PM
7117/2017 4:00 PM
711312017 11:41 AM
96
63
159
ADU Changes
SurveyMonkey
Q5 Should the City only require 1 additional parking space per ADU,
rather than the 2 that are now required for units over 600 square feet?
Answered: 162 Skipped: 3
Yes - make the
change
No - keep this
the same
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes - make the change
No - keep this the same
TOTAL
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 500% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
RESPONSES
54,32%
45M%
# OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)
DATE
1 Who cares? There are cars parked all over the place. Just keep the cars parked off of the streets-
7/2112017 4!07 PM
2 if the MIL is for one person why two cars? somehow, the parking spaces should match the number
7119/2017 8:15 AM
of cars that belong to the residents of the MIL
3 Its important that ADUs not effect street parking
7/18)2017 7:25 PM
4 Parking is already a HUGE issue in Tukwila. Off street parking is essential if we are going to have
711812017 5:46 PM
passable roads,
5 City should LIMIT additional parking to one space
7/17/2017 11:05 PM
6 Parking is generally a problem in the city, let's not exacerbate the parking problem,
7/17/2017 4:00 PM
7 Is a parking space considered a place in the driveway, in front of the garage?
7/1 6/201 7 4:51 PM
8 The density of this area is increasing. Many people will ride public tranist and only have a max of
7/13/2017 11:11 AM
one car. The current 2 additional spots seems to not take into account the current culture of the
area,
9 Encourage less car use.
7113/2017 9:10 AM
5/15
88
74
162
31
ADU Changes
SurveyMonkey
Q6 Should the property owner be allowed to rent out both the house and
ADU instead of living on site?
Yes - make the
change
No - keep the
same
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes - make the change
No - keep the same
TOTAL
Answered: 163 Skipped: 2
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
RESPONSES
53,37%
# OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)
1 This is the main problem. As a past Tukwila Building Inspector I found developers buying
properties to convert the property into a duplex with no intention of living there. I brought this to the
attention of the Planning Director and was told that requiring the owner live at the residence was
not enforceable, A study was done a while ago about the percent of rental units in the city. There
must have been some concerti,
2 Again, this is a MUCH needed change to support this crowded, growing regiont! Affordable options
are shrinking!'
3 Okay as long as a professional property manager is Managing property'l!
4 No, these changes should be for housing family and friends not for converting the LDR lots into
high density, money making lots which would destry the charm of LDR neighborhoods.
5 Allow rent out both the house and AUD if the owner lives in the premise or not
6 But only on 7200SF lots otherwise there is no benefit to the community.
7 Its important to for Tukwila to rerinain an owner occupied city,
8 If both units are rentals more multi -family buildings which are unregulated will be created. Do we
really need more multi -family dwellings in 'Tukwila? We already have more per capita than any
other city in the state.
9 nol owner occupation is a must
10 Lets not encourage absentee landlords who are mostly profit and not community oriented.
11 People own these buildings and should be able to do what they want with them. There are so
many existing codes and rental requirements it is the least we can do for people who have to abide
by all of Prose regulations and business license.
12 No slum lords please
6/15
32
DATE
8/512017 8:46 AM
7/23/2017 9:37 PM
7/23/2017 1:02 PM
712112017 4:07 PM
7/2012017 7:42 PM
712012017 6:10 PM
7/18/2017 7:25 PM
7/18/2017 5:46 PM
7118/2017 1233 PM
711 7120 1 7 4:00 PM
711312017 1111 AM
7/1312017 9:10 AM
87
76
163
ADU Changes
Q7 In what neighborhood do you live?
Answered,- 160 Skipped: 5
Ryan HiU
Allentown
Duwarnish
Foster Point
Riverton
Foster
Cascade View
Thorndyke
l'ukwiIa Hill
ANSWER CHOICES
Ryan Hill
Allentown
Duwamish
Foster Point
Riverton
Foster
Cascade View
Thorndyke
Tukwila Hill
McMicken
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
7/15
RESPONSES
1.88%
7.50%
1,25%
5.63%
9.38%
11.88%
938%
11.25%
2175%
13.75%
Sui-veyMonkey
3
12
2
9
15
19
15
18
38
22
a
ADU Changes
I don't live in Tukwila
TOTAL
Um
34
4.38%
SurveyMonkey
160
ADU Chanes
ANSWER CHOICES
Own
Rent
TOTAL
Q8 Do you own or rent your house?
Answered_ 162 Skippe& 3
mo
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
9/15
RESPONSES
93,21%
6.79%
SurveyMonkey
35
ADU Changes
No
Yes - enter
your email...
Email address
Answered: 158 Skippec: 7
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
No 37,97%
Yes - enter your email address below 1,90%
Email address 60.13%
TOTAL
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
W,
10/15
SurveyMonkey
DATE
8/16/2017 3:17 PM
8/16/2017 1:05 PM
8116/2017 1:03 PM
8/1612017 1:01 PM
8/16/2017 1:00 PM
8/1 3/201 7 9:55 AM
8/9/2017 9!54 AM
8/8/2017 1:14 PM
8/7/2017 1:02 PM
8/3/2017 5:20 PM
8/2/2017 10:34 AM
8/1/2017 4:12 PM
8/1/2017 4:09 PM
8/1/2017 4:07 PM
8/1/2017 4:06 PM
811/10174:04 PM
8/1/201'712:11 PM
8/1/2017 7:46 AM
60
3
95
158
ADU Changes
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
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56
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58
59
SurveyMonkey
8/1/2017 7:35 AM
7131/2017 7:12 PM
7/31/2017 6:21 PM
7/31/2017 4:10 PM
7/30/2017 939 PM
7/30/2017 3:17 PM
7/2812017 3:44 PM
7126/2017 6:16 PM
7/26/2017 7:52 AM
7/25/2017 6:24 AM
7/24,12017 1136 PM
7/23/2017 9:41 PM
7/23/2017 4:32 PM
7/23/2017 1;58 PM
7/2312017 1!08 PM
7/22/2017 9:34 PM
7/22/2017 3:16 PM
7/22/2017 1213 PM
7121/2017 12:36 PM
7/20/2017 11:16 PM
7/20/2017 9:16 PM
7/20/2017 7.43 PM
7/20/2017 6:13 PM
7/20/2017 4:41 PM
7/20/2017 8:13 AM
7/1912017 12:44 PM
7/19/2017 9:57 AM
7/19/2017 9:21 AM
7/19/2017 8:16 AM
7/19/2017 6:20 AM
7/19/2017 4:50 AM
7/1812017 9:35 PM
7/18/2017 9:13 PM
7/18/2017 7:27 PM
7/18/2017 7:05 PM
7/18/2017 5:48 PM
7/18/2017 5:40 PM
7/18/2017 5:08 PM
7/1 8/201 7 4:48 PM
7/18/2017 4:41 PM
7/18/2017 4:29 PM
MA
ADU Changes
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
W -P
12/15
SurveyMonkey
7/18/2017 12:36 PM
7,118/2017 8:02 AM
7/17/2017 11:06 PM
711712017 10.03 PM
7/17,12017 9:44 PM
7/17/2017 6:14 PM
7/1712017 4:07 PM
7/1712017 3:13 PM
711712017 2:56 PM
7/1712017 2:55 PM
7,11712017 11:45 AM
7/17,2017 8:49 AM
7/16/2017 8:29 PM
7116/2017 4:53 PM
7/15/2017 11:23 PM
7114/2017 8:44 PM
7/14,12017 7:44 PM
7,114/2017 11:25 AM
711412017 10:54 AM
711 4/201 7 6:09 AM
7!13/2017 8:38 PM
7`1312017:3:29 PM
7/1312017 1:50 PM
7/1312017 1:17 PM
7/1312017 12:29 PM
711312017 12:06 PM
7/1312017 11:42 AM
7113)2017 11:32 AM
T1312017 11:29 AM
711312017 11:25 AM
711312017 11:19 AM
Tel 312017 1115 AM
7113/2017 11,12 AM
7113/2017 11:10 AM
7/13/2017 9:52 AM
7/1 31201 7 9:11 AM
ADU Changes
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7
8
9
in
11
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SurveyMonkey
#10 Thank you for taking the time to give us your opinion. Let us know if
you have other thoughts on this issue.
Answered: 54 Skipped: 111
RESPONSES
DATE
ADUs are a great tool for improving the inventory of affordable housing in our community (arid for
8/1612017 3:17 PM
providing a little income boost to home owners, as well!) Win -Win!
Hardcopy response from 8/9 See You in the Park
811612017 1 06 PM
Hardcopy response from 8/9 See You in the Park
8/16/2017 1:05 PM
Hardcopy response from 8/9 See You in the Park
811612017 1:05 PM
Hardcopy response from 8/9 See You in the Park
8/1612017 1:03 PM
Hardcopy response from 8/9 See You in the Park
8/1612017 1:01 PM
Hardcopy response from 8/9 See You in the Park
8/16/2017 1:00 PM
I would like the changes be made in steps --I'm not totally opposed to detached ADU's but I have
8/712017 1:02 PM
concerns, given the foreign environment of our citizens as to how they would be kept and what
they would took like. We have a boarding house at the end of our street and it was not unusual to
have 14-18 cars parked there until we complained. the owner says he lives there but we neighbors
seriously doubt it. Having a nonowner occupancy allowance leaves room for the excuse of "not
knowing" what is going on and depending on neighbors to police activity.
Allowing detached AMU's will certainly increase the appeal for developers and landlords to
8/512017 9:06 AM
purchase properties to profit from multiple tenant properties. It is happening now. In many cases
the property owners do not live at the residence. The council should not adopt unenforceable
regulation. This will certainly change the character of Tukwila. Attached ADUS have already
obanged Tukwila's character, I believe this will increase Tukwila's problem with irresponsible
landlords.
Thank you for making the survey. There are already several of these type units, have, some good
8/212017 10:34 AM
guidefinesIbOUndaries is a great idea.
Hardcopy response from 7/26 See You in the Park
8/112017 4:13 PM
Hardcopy response from 7126 See You in the Park
8/112017 4:12 PM
Hardcopy response from 7/26 See You in the Park
8/112017 4:10 PM
Hardcopy response from 7/26 See You in the Park
8/112017 4:09 PM
Hardcopy response from 7/26 See You in the Park
8/112017 4:07 PM
Hardcopy response from 7126 See You in the Park
8/112017 4:06 PM
Hardcopy response from 7126 See You in the Park
8/112017 4104 PM
Hardcopy response from 7/26 See You in the Park
8/112017 4:01 PM
Vintage laws do not apply well to modern times.
8/112017 7A6 AM
It Would be helpful to have more specific information on these issues in order to provide more
7/26/2017 7.52 AM
informed responses.
I know if one of my relatives needed to stay with us, it would be great to have an ADU (well built
7/24/2017 11:36 PM
and with curb appeal). I don't see any reason not to allow these in Tukwila, provided they are not
eye sores and well maintained.
Feel strongly that increased opportunities for ADU an private properties can only increase the
7/23/2017 9:41 PM
options for housing and the prosperity of the region!
Keep Tukwila a single family/single home community -....And NO MORE high-rises, despite the
7/2312017 4:32 PM
bribes
13/15
�GH
ADU Changes
SurveyMonkey
24
Property managers need to be involved if both units are rented, expecially if owner is out of state!
7/23/2017 1:08 PM
otherwise you can quickly lose the upkeep that comes from pride in ownership. Square foot of
detachable dwelling could be larger if lot size is larger but capped at 800 square feet
25
More and more people moving into Tukwila and low density zoning should be changed to full fill
7/22/2017 9:34 PM
the needs of housing,
26
City should also look at results of sticky dot exercise (@ Showalter MS and Tukwila CC) several
7/22/2017 12:13 PM
years ago, prior to Comp Plan update.
27
Nobody likes a busybody. We do not need a "nanny state"- We can make our own decisions - as
7/21/2017 4-11 PM
long as they do not, negatively, affect others,
28
More parking, not less, it seems that the Asus are capable of two or more adults, most will have
7/20/2017 11:16 PM
cars, street parking is getting scarce
29
Which Council persons plan to recuse themselves because they own lots 7200SF or are
7/20/2017 6:13 PM
considering ADU on their property?
30
Why are the new lot sizes in Georgetown as low as 2500'LDR lots?
7/20/2017 4:41 PM
31
yes fir cottage and tiny homes!
7/20/2017 8:13 AM
32
Thank you for requesting input, and for considering this shift in policy.
7/19/2017 9:21 AM
33
These ADU's will be an increase to the Population of Tukwila. I hope that the City ensures we are
7/19/2017 12:45 AM
able to provide the necessary services to current citizens and provide for growth.
34
1 Wouldn't mind allowing a current garage on the property to be converted to an ADU if an
7/1812017 10:38 PM
additional parking space was required and all of the other current ADU requirements weremet
35
Stop making Tukwila a slum-
7/18/2017 9:13 PM
36
While there are some valid, compelling reasons for ADUs let's not destroy the single family
7/1812017 5:48 PM
neighborhoods that we have,.,.there just aren't that many of them.
37
Constituits get tired of their local governments trying to control every aspect of their personal
7/18/2017 5:40 PM
decisions concerning their properties and lifestyles.
38
This is a positive and needed way to address the affordable housing issues we face.
7/18/2017 5:08 PM
39
Please do not sneak anymore halfway, sexoffender- rehab houses into our neighborhood
7/1 8/201 7 4:29 PM
40
Thank you.
7/18/2017 2:07 PM
41
1 see these units as a place for seniors or a disabled family mernber that needs help. They should
7/1812017 12-36 PM
not be built solely as a revenue stream for the home owner
42
Let's try to accommodate more affordable housing, without destroying the appearance , integrity,
7/1712017 4:07 PM
aesthetics and scale of our neighborhoods- If we had wanted ghetto style, appearance and culture,
we would have looked elsewhere outside the city of Tukwila,
43
It is great that the city is moving in a positive way to create affordable housing. This will help build
7/17/2017 8:49 AM
a stronger and secure neighborhoods.
44
this is one of the solution to resolve the housing crisis in urban area.
7/16/2017 8:29 PM
45
We appreciate your work on options for affordabllity. I am also eager to hear if and when cottage
7/14/2017 7:44 PM
developments (with parking on the periphery of a cluster) will be allowed again on larger lots as
historically.
46
To clarify I am a property owner- in Tukwila but not a resident
7/14/2017 6:10 PM
47
Trees! City should have an official arborist on staff to promote care and preservation of mature
7/1412017 10:54 AM
trees, and incorporation of existing trees into new project designs. All building permits should
require arborist's sign -off. Codes against cutting down mature trees should be enacted and
enforced. Public needs to be educated about the value of trees and alternatives to removal.
48
The easiest way to increase affordable, housing is with ADUs.
7/13/2017 8:38 PM
49
1 own a house across from the Duawamish in Tukwila. I think increasing density is a good idea.
7/13/2017 1:17 PM
50
The ADU should riot have to be of like style to the main house. Keeping this requirement will stop
7/13/2017 12:29 PM
the building of more efficient and practical housing alternatives.
MAIN
Hsi
ADU Changes SurveyMonkey
51 1 believe that amending the code to encourage ADU's will help homeowners battle the ever 711312017 12:06 PM
increasing housing costs in our area, as well as provide affordable housing for tenants,
Additionally. because many ADU's are already in existence, I would encourage the city to offer a
program to grandfather in existing ADU's (I have no idea how that would work, but I have heard of
other municipalities doing that very thing)
52 We like this idea to help with housing needs! 7113/2017 11-42 AM
53 What would the rules be for utilities: water sewer and electricity? 7113/2017 11:10 AM
54 Glad you are working on this, 711312017 9-11 AM
15/15
41
42
Accessory Dwelhng Unit Standards
City
Min. Lot Size Max. Unit Size
Height
Parking Requirement
Owner Occupancy
Other Regulations
Tukwila
Attached
smaller of 1/3 sf of
main house or 1,000
7,200 sf NA
2 for main house, 1 for ADU
up to 600 sf, 2 for ADU over
600 sf
Required
Incorporated into the primary single-family residence so that
both units appear to be of the same design as if constructed
at the same time, Not sold as a condo, Detached not
permitted
Renton
Attached and
Detached Sarne as zone main house or 800 sf than main house 2 for main house, 1 for ADU affidavit, notice on title in City, meet impervious surface and building coverage
smaller of 3/4 sf of 30', but no taller Required, signed Conditional Use Permit, match main house, 50 total per year
Kent
Specific zoning
requirements of
each zone. ADU in
new development
limited to 800 sf or
Attached and 33% of the principal
Detached same as Zone home
23' but not to
exceed the
height of the
principal building 2 for main house, 1 for ADU
1 unit must be owner
occupied for 6 months
of the year Must have
recorded covenant with
the County
Immediate neighbors of an ADU applicant will be notified of
the pending ADU permit within 15 days of the application
being deemed complete.
SeaTac
Attached
Detached
Same as NEW. 800 SF
Zone, 1 ADU EXiSTING. 45% of the
per lot principal home 20'
Parking for main house by
zone, 1 for ADU up to 600 sf, Required to occupy for
2 for ADO over 600 sf at least 9 months
ADU must be registered with the City of SeaTac. Waiver for
additional parking requirements can be granted if adequate
street parking is available.
Same as
Zone, 1 ADU
per lot 800 SF
Parking for main house by
zone, 1 for ADU up to 600 sf, Required to occupy for
20' 2 for ADU over 600 sf at least 9 months
ADU must be registered with the City of SeaTac. Waiver for
additional parking requirements can be granted if adequate
street parking is available.
Burien
Attached and
Detached
Same as
Zone. ADU
footprint no
more than
15% of the
total lot area
or 80% of the
main
residence
Attached 1000 SF
Detached 800 SF
May not exceed
10ft above the
height of the
primary existing
structure or the
max allo..ved in
the zone
1 additional parking space is
required. Parking should be
on the side or rear of the
building.
Required
Non -conforming ADU's can apply to become legal ADU's if
they meet all requirements set fourth in the BMC
Seattle (in SF Zone)
Attached
Detached
Same as zone 1,000 sf
NA
1 for main house, 1 for ADU,
waiver is possible
Required, signed
covenant
Max 8 residents on site unless all related
Duplex building standards for sound and fire separation if
new construction, Only 1 visible entrance per street
4,000 800 sf
1 for main house, 1 for ADU,
waiver is possible
Required, signed
covenant
Entrance can't face nearest side yard or rear unless on an
alley
W:\@SHAREPOINT FOLDER RESTRUCTURE\Cocie Updates\Code_Amendments\ADU Proposal \ ADU Standards
City Min. Lot Size Max. Unit Size Height Parking Requirement Owner Occupancy Other Regulations
1 or more related persons plus up to 5 additional persons,
Portland Some utility hook up and impact fees reduced or waived
Attached
Detached
smaller of 3/4 sf of
Same as zone main house or 800 sf NA
No additional for ADO
No Only 1 entrance on street facade
smaller of 3/4 sf of
Same as zone main house or 800 sf 20height
No additional for ADU No
Smaller footprint than main house, 40' setback from front
lot line or behind the house, design to match main house,
Duplex building standards if new construction
WA@SHAREPOINT FOLDER RESTRUCTURE \Code Updates\Code_Amendments\ADU Proposal\ADU Standards