Accessory Dwelling Unit project & policy briefing May 25

Accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, are seen as an affordable, innovative, and effective option for adding housing options to the community. Also called granny flats, in-law units, backyard cottages, or secondary units, ADUs are seen as one way of addressing the state’s housing crisis.

The public is invited to a meeting on May 25 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Laguna Beach Community and Susi Q Center in concert with the City’s Housing and Human Services Committee monthly meeting. The special SCAG ADU meeting will help the city gather community input and better understand local concerns and opportunities concerning ADUs.

City staff liaison Anthony Viera and a contracted consultant will present key findings from initial technical work and review the main goals and objectives of the process. The Committee's regular monthly meeting will follow the ADU presentation and Q and A session.

The City of Laguna Beach has received funding from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to spur ADU production and alleviate the housing crunch. This project will serve to modernize permitting processes and policy and inform best practices. From it, the City’s goal is to develop and produce an ADU handbook for Laguna Beach that can serve as a model for other jurisdictions.

“This is a technical workshop geared toward residents who have an interest in how ADUs are developed in the community, residents who might consider adding an ADU to their property, and professionals with an interest in this segment of the design/build market,” said Cody Engle, ADU Subcommittee chair. "Rather than assume what people want to know, our goal in presenting this session is to present key findings and hear the major areas of concern about the process and the policies so that projects can be approached realistically and then streamlined. From this process, we can produce a truly helpful, practical ADU Handbook that offers homeowners sound guidance. We will also then tailor a second, more nuts-and-bolts workshop about the practical aspects of constructing ADUs.”

The second ADU workshop, separate from this SCAG grant-funded session, will be held by the Housing and Human Services Committee. Working professionals in the construction and design fields will be invited by the committee to participate in a panel discussion. They will be available for questions from the public, as will City staff to address procedural questions related to the entitlement process. The date is to be announced.

For more information about ADUs, please visit the City’s ADU webpage and the American Planning Association’s ADU Info page.

What: SCAG ADU Project and Policy Briefing Public Workshop

When: Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Note: Housing and Human Services Committee meetings are now in person only, and held the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m.

Where: Laguna Beach Community and Susi Q Center, 380 Third Street, Laguna Beach

For more information about this SCAG-funded ADU workshop, please contact Anthony Viera, Senior Planner, at 949.497.0398 or aviera@lagunabeachcity.net.