Grover Beach wants to help residents build tiny homes. Here’s how
The city of Grover Beach wants to make building tiny homes easier for residents who want to add more housing to their property.
According to a news release from the city, the Community Development Department created a list of pre-approved plans for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to help property owners get through the design, permitting and construction process faster.
“Streamlining our ADU permitting process will help expand access to affordable housing in Grover Beach,” Grover Beach Mayor Karen Bright said in the release, adding that ADUs can also benefit homeowners “by serving as another source of income.”
“Our permitting and construction guidelines will ensure that we maintain the close-knit community that we value here in Grover Beach,” Bright said.
Grover Beach city manager Matthew Bronson said expanding access to ADUs are a ”key piece” of the city’s housing puzzle due to the low cost to builders and tenants alike.
Bronson said the cities of Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, Atascadero and Morro Bay used a one-time grant from the state in 2020 to create ADU templates in a “unique collaborative effort” to make building small housing units easier to build.
“I believe that the four cities are all beginning to roll this out,” Bronson said. “We’re all looking forward to sharing this with our respective communities.”
Grover Beach provides ADU templates for builders
ADUS are small living spaces for one or more individuals on the property of a single-family residence, featuring a separate entrance, permanent kitchen, sleeping area, living area and bathroom, Bronson said..
That can take the shape of an apartment over a garage, or a detached living space in a backyard.
The state of California already made it easier to build ADUs and junior accessory dwelling units — which are small housing units attached to the main dwelling — via several state bills in 2020 that removed the ministerial review process.
Grover Beach is taking the process one step farther by giving residents a series of ADU buildings to choose from that are guaranteed to meet local restrictions.
First, residents must go through an ADU permit checklist with the city that includes identifying the type of unit being built, proof of ownership of the property, permit fees and an application plan, the city’s website said.
According to the city’s website, applicants can choose from already reviewed plans for a 316-square-foot studio, a 445-square-foot studio, a 626-square-foot one-bedroom unit, a 745-square-foot “one bedroom plus” unit, a 946-square-foot one-bedroom unit with a loft or a 1,007-square-foot two-bedroom unit.
Once a unit size has been selected, applicants can choose from a set of styles that could fit with their property — bungalow, coastal ranch, craftsman or modern.
Bronson said the city worked with building inspection and planning process firm JAS Pacific to ensure the buildings fit with local development codes, while staff from the four cities created different designs.
The result was “really modern designs to provide different opportunities, ranging from 300 square feet up to 1000 square feet,” Bronson said.
All units are equipped with basic amenities, though their footprints for these spaces vary from unit to unit.
Once applicants select a size and style, they need to complete their site and drainage plan, in accordance with Grover Beach’s stormwater construction requirements.
Applicants can then submit their building permit and, if approved, begin building, the city’s website said.
Although these templates provide a set of basic building guidelines and floor plans, Bronson said, interested applicants should still consult with a design professional to fill out the design with components such as water, electricity and heating based on their property’s limitations.
“It gives you a really clear sense of dimensions and a sense of the setbacks and other requirements that will make the plan development process just sail right through,” Bronson said.
This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 5:30 AM.
