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FWIW, that 40' distance between house and ADU seems excessive. I'd want to see what other jurisdictions do. I think the distance ought to vary by R zone. It happens my backyard is 90 feet long. There is a garage on the alley that could easily be converted into an ADU. (It's actually legal now in my R zone.) HOWEVER, there is another proposed rule that the buildings can't be zero lot line on the alley side, which further limits the ability to do this. I think it would be advantageous to have the building on the alley lot line, not disadvantageous. But I haven't had a chance to read the proposal. (It's dumb to not allow the building's on the alley, because that will increase separation from extant houses, which seems to be an issue with people.)

WRT the general thread about those f*ing renters, it's really about SES more than anything. Maybe renters aren't at the civic assn. Can you blame them? So often the groups are so f*ing petty and the meetings dull as hell, plus the puffery and self-importance of various people can be problematic.

If renters have kids, they could well be involved at the school. If they have less space because they are in an ADU, they probably use the park and may be involved in the parks friends group or the group that maintains the playground, etc.

It's all about building the right capacity and outreach to get involved. Most civic institutions and neighborhood groups don't do a very good job of this. The challenge is to build the opportunity and interest on the part of renters, rather than just prima facie excoriate them.

Hell, in my neighborhood, I am one of the only people who picks up litter off the street, and my face block of 24 hourse has 1-2 vacants, maybe 3 renters (maybe), and the rest are owner occupied. We don't have a functioning neighborhood assn. (Takoma, a few blocks over, does.) But we manage.

by Richard Layman on May 31, 2012 10:16 pm • link • report