The County is fast-tracking an update to its Second Unit Ordinance in order to bring it into compliance with State law by the Jan 1, 2017, state-imposed deadline. Second units are accessory dwelling units on developed residential property, also known as in-law or granny units. They are viewed as an important source of new housing to help deal with the county jobs/housing gap (26 new jobs for each new housing unit built).
It is important to note that the Coastal Act and the County Local Coastal Program (LCP) supersede the State’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Law which now prohibits quotas or growth limits on second units. In the Coastal Zone, LCP Policy 1.23 will continue to limit new Midcoast residential building permits, including second units, to 40 per year. Policy 3.22 will continue to cap the total number of approved second units at 466 in the Coastal Zone. Coastside Design Review will continue to apply to second units because it is required in the LCP. Community Development Director Steve Monowitz gave assurance at the Nov 30 hearing that there is no intention to request amendment of those LCP policies.
County second-unit ordinance changes to comply with state law include regulations of size, setback, and parking, and require that second units meeting all zoning standards receive ministerial approval, meaning no discretion or public hearing. The staff report is here. Project planner is Will Gibson, wgibson@smcgov.org, 650-363-1816.
The Planning Commission heard the item at their Nov 30 meeting and, at the request of the public in attendance and Commissioner Kersteen-Tucker, agreed to delete the proposed optional expansion of second units into open space resource management areas of the Coastal Zone. The Commission voted 3-0 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the proposed ordinance as amended.
[UPDATE: The Board of Supervisors approved the ordinance 1/10/2017.]
An amnesty program is being planned (likely for early 2017) for second units that were built without permits.