August 21, 2023
San Rafael City Council
1400 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
RE: Response to Grand Jury - Build More ADUs (item 6.a) Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers,
While we recognize that the City supports and facilitates Auxiliary Dwelling Units (ADUs), we urge you to take to heart the spirit of the recent Grand Jury report and redouble efforts to ease and speed the process of building this important additional housing. These efforts include:
Assisting homeowners wishing to construct ADUs.
Continue work with Marin and adjacent counties to provide the information and resources needed (R1 & R3).
Simplifying and streamlining ADU approvals, and assuring that actual approvals occur within State timelines (R5).
Creating additional incentives for ADUs by quickly
implementing the City's new Housing Element, with particular emphasis on incentives for affordable ADUs (R6).
ADUs provide a truly grassroots housing solution, with
multiple co-benefits:
• Second units are affordable by design and size.
• They often can be built within the footprint and
envelop of an existing structure, saving costs and
reducing environmental impacts.
• The additional rent that ADUs provide owners often
enables existing residents to remain in their homes
and new families to afford to buy in San Rafael.
• ADUs may also provide housing for children who grew
up in our community but cannot afford housing here.
• As owners age, the occupants of a second unit may
help monitor the health and wellbeing of owners,
allowing them to remain longer in their homes.
Thank you for recognizing the urgency of providing more affordable housing in San Rafael and the important role of ADUs in sustaining an economically diverse city.
Sincerely,
Linda Jackson,
Vice President
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
William Carney, President
Linda Jackson, Vice President
Stuart Siegel, Secretary
Greg Brockbank
Kay Karchevski
Kiki La Porta
Annika Osborn
Howard Schwartz
415.302.0110