Encourage development of new housing or remodeling of existing housing to accommodate seniors and individuals with disabilities by promoting universal design principles.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) come in many different shapes, types and sizes. They can either be constructed within a property’s building envelope, or they can be part of a home extension. ADUs often provide the opportunity for seniors and individuals with disabilities to stay within their communities. However, construction of ADUs can be complicated. Thus, the Planning Department recently produced an ADU handbook in July 2015, and residents can view the handbook here:
The ADU handbook will need to be approved by the Planning Commission, and it is anticipated for a hearing in Fall 2015. The ADU handbook incorporates information on the various ADU prototypes, financial analysis and considerations, and how to determine which options suits one’s needs given existing zoning. Most notably, this handbook highlights throughout each section the requirements and considerations that must be given for accessibility improvements. We believe that this handbook, once adopted, will be very useful for residents considering home remodeling projects to better accommodate seniors and individuals with disabilities.