Seaside provides free accessory dwelling unit plans
SEASIDE, Calif. (KION)
This week, Seaside City Council released pre-approved accessory dwelling unit (ADU) plans on it's website for residents, in what some city officials say is part of an effort to mitigate the housing crisis in California.
City Council Member Elect Alexis Garcia-Arrazola say these units are a way for homeowners to create more living spaces while saving money and to keep locals from having to move out of state due to financial hardships.
“It was requested by the people of the city but it was also pressure from the state.Right now the city of Seaside has RHNA goals of creating 166 affordable units, we’re hoping that these blue prints will help us achieve that goal," says Arrazola.
Arrazola says one of the biggest challenges the state faces is people moving out of the state when they cannot afford housing prices in California.
“Right now we have a huge housing crisis in the state of California, We can keep people here locally, people that have lived here for a while that are thinking about possibly leaving…they can rent out these ADUs so if anything, we’re generating revenue.”
Seaside homeowner, Jose Robles, says he is currently renting out rooms of his house to residents in need of more affordable housing.
“Lately, I’ve seen a lot of people in despair, living on the streets... I think it’s important to make ourselves accessible by creating more rooms in places where they are permitted," says Robles.
Arrazola says these state approved plans make the permit process easier for residents and fees normally totaling around $2,500 are waived.
Robles says this will come in handy when constructing his next unit.
“I want to make a studio on a second floor up on my roof to give even more space. Getting permits is hard sometimes so I’ll be looking at the city’s blueprints to see if they approve it," says Robles.
Arrazola says the most commonly seen ADUs are garage conversions and adds the plans make a safer construction alternative.
The plans are being offered free.
More details can be found on:
