A nationally regarded San Diego housing program designed to significantly boost the number of new affordable housing units is unexpectedly under fire from the City Council.
At issue is the city’s bonus program for accessory dwelling units. It allows property owners to build one extra ADU for every unit that is deed-restricted for occupancy by low-income households.
Individual ADUs are limited to 1,200 feet, but the program potentially allows up to four units to be built on single-family lots in low-density areas — and even more in areas close to mass transit.
At Tuesday’s meeting, which was focused on reversing a 2019 zoning change that reduced minimum lot sizes in southeastern San Diego, Councilmember Henry Foster III, who represents the area, went further and proposed that the ADU program be restricted to the minimum level required by state law.
He argued that a proliferation of ADUs “is destroying community character” and creating unsafe conditions.
Even though the ADU program wasn’t on the agenda, the council approved a motion directing staff to return in 60 days with new rules restricting the number of units that can be built.
The City Attorney’s office told the council the action could be a violation of the Brown Act, which covers open meetings, because the ADU program wasn’t on the agenda.
A study by UC Berkeley found that the program caused an ADU building boom after it was passed in 2020. But homeowners have expressed frustration with multi-unit developments that some have termed “granny flat” towers.
Mayor Todd Gloria issued a statement saying he was disappointed by the council’s action and is exploring options to support the ADU program.
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