05/09/2006: "Proposed ADU Ordinance Fails To Address Density"

Dear Editor:

Regarding your recent article on the Proposed May 5 Ordinance on ADUS: Previous Story

As readers of my previous letter will recall, the only significant issue regarding ADU's is their impact on density. So, how does the proposed ordinance deal with that?

"Each detached accessory dwelling unit shall be counted as a separate dwelling unit for density calculations, except when allowed pursuant to an ADU permit."

That's it.

In fact, the proposed ordinance seems to be giving the finger to the whole issue of density:

> Every ...... accessory dwelling unit that do not meet the density requirement in which they are located [sic] will require an "ADU Permit."
> No more than one ADU Permit shall be issued to a property owner in any calendar year.

And finally, to really gild this particular lily:
> An application for a detached accessory dwelling unit shall include evidence of the availability on site of one equivalent residential unit [ERU] of water in addition to the water required for the principal residence." So an ADU is an ERU for water-use but not for density!

What's with those guys?

Bob Querry
San Juan