Published On: November 10th, 2022Categories: Colorado News

In August my cousin and his wife sold their home in Kansas City and moved to Morrison, Colorado, to live in what they call a “house within a house” with their daughter, son-in-law, and two young grandchildren. This multi-generational family housing arrangement not only benefits both families financially, but it helps my cousin and his wife “age in place,” even more important because he has Parkinson’s disease. It also supports their daughter and her young family who often need childcare.

The “house within a house” is commonly called an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), or granny suite. My cousin and his wife have their own living quarters downstairs, including a separate entrance, kitchen, laundry room, living area and two bedrooms. Their kids live upstairs in a larger self-contained space. This provides the best of both worlds for their family, wanting to be close physically, but with the independence and privacy they desire.

Jan Burton For the Camera

Many communities nationwide have revised their building codes to include ADUs over the past five years to address rising housing costs, the need for housing diversity and the desire of many homeowners to “age in place.” ADUs can be built as a portion of the main house or a separate dwelling structure on the same property.

In Boulder, we have had an ADU ordinance for many years, but like most of our building codes, it is overly complex, filled with barriers, and therefore hasn’t gotten much traction. Boulder’s code actually includes an exclusionary saturation clause, disallowing any homeowner from having an ADU if more than 20% of their neighbors within 300 feet already have one. Incidentally, this is the only known saturation clause worldwide.

City Council will be discussing changes with the planning staff in a November 10 study session. This pro-housing council has an opportunity to make comprehensive, beneficial, and common-sense changes to our housing codes.

Changes needed for Boulder’s ADU code include the elimination of barriers like saturation limits, parking requirements and minimum lot sizes. This can be done by city staff without any substantial community engagement. We all know what needs to be done. In addition, staff should revise ADU size limits and streamline the ADU review processes to make it much easier to gain approval and build.

These recommendations were all made to the Housing Advisory Board by two housing advocacy groups, the Boulder Housing Network and Better Boulder, of which I am a board member. In addition, Boulder’s Housing Advisory Board recommended that the city create pre-approved ADU floor plans as they have done in other cities like Eugene, Oregon. Though not recommended by the board, I think any new home construction should have a “by right” code to build an ADU. (This should absolutely be the case for any Marshall fire rebuilds).

The city has performed many years of community engagement since 2015, and surveys have always shown broad support for ADUs. Ninety-three percent of all ADU owners surveyed report that neighbors generally approve of existing ADUs.

Boulder has many examples of successful ADUs. My friends built an ADU when constructing their new home, even while enduring the never-ending process requirements. They now provide housing for a young immigrant family at affordable housing prices. In exchange, the young family watches out for their property and does small maintenance when the owners are traveling.

ADUs, because they are small, offer an excellent affordable housing option, with no government subsidization. They encourage social interaction, support families in need of flexible living arrangements and can provide income to homeowners. With skyrocketing property taxes and insurance costs, this income is necessary for some Boulderites to stay in their home.

Instead of restricting ADUs, City Council should set an aggressive goal for them and coordinate policy, procedures and communications to encourage this type of housing. With broad community support, our planning department should use a “consultation” level of engagement and work through the Housing Advisory Board and Planning Board to implement changes as quickly as possible.

ADUs are a democratic and free-market housing type, provided by homeowners, and ADUs are well suited for Boulder’s aging population. This one tool won’t solve our housing crisis, but it is a smart and easy solution at no cost to taxpayers and at great benefit to homeowners and occupants.

Jan Burton is a former member of the Boulder City Council. Email: Jan.burton111@gmail.com.

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Jan Burton
2022-11-10 17:14:22
Boulder Daily Camera
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