|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
State Sen. Steve Glazer is hoping his East Bay district can become the prototype for accessory dwelling unit (ADU) production in California — and he’s staking its reputation on that potential, with some state funding in the pot.
Through the efforts of the termed-out Democrat, 15 cities and towns including all in the Tri-Valley can share in up to $2.5 million through September 2026 to rapidly spur ADU development in their jurisdiction, including some state money that will take the form of rebates to property owners for qualifying ADU projects.
“It is no secret the State of California is facing a shortage of available and affordable housing, and no one knows this better than our local cities and towns,” Glazer said in a statement last week. “From my first days in the State Senate, I have been a staunch supporter of cities seeking new and unique ways to spur the production of housing while blending new developments within the fabric of their communities.”
“I’m hoping that cities in my district can show what can be achieved when cities work together with the state on an incentivized program aimed at producing more affordable housing,” Glazer added.
The new “ADU Accelerator Program” is a pilot initiative administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development with funding secured in the 2023 budget through Glazer’s legislative advocacy efforts, according to his office.
Only specific cities and towns in Alameda and Contra Costa counties are eligible, provided they have a certified Housing Element. In addition to Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, San Ramon and Danville, the full list includes Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg and Walnut Creek.
The program will offer up to $1,725,000 overall for rebates to property owners who obtain construction permits and actually complete their ADU with an occupancy certificate within 18 months. Rebates will be offered between $5,000 and $15,000 for low-income restricted ADUs at up to 1,000 square feet, and between $2,500 to $7,500 for non-restricted ADUs.
The total available funding per municipality is based on a per capita calculation of $1.87 — so Dublin, with its population of 72,917 would be eligible for up to $136,352 for resident rebates.
Another $750,000 in state funding (up to $50,000 per jurisdiction) will be available to the city and town governments to support them creating new “prototypical permit-ready ADU plans … design elevations and construction drawings. Permit-ready plans are intended to streamline the ADU development process and facilitate additional ADU development in the community. Cities may partner with other cities on applications in this category to leverage investment,” according to the state fact sheet.
The goal is to facilitate the addition of up to 350 ADUs among the cities and have the pilot program become a model for what could be accomplished at the local level with state incentive funding in terms of bringing actual housing units online efficiently, according to Glazer’s office.
To participate, qualified cities or towns must turn in a completed electronic application to the town of Danville, which is the designated fiscal agent for the pilot program.
