Gilroy must continue to promote the development of more housing for all income levels while looking at creative policies and funding through our local control to make them more livable, access to transit, bikeable, and walkable. I support Gilroy's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program in single-family and multi-family residential lots, while having the additional option for junior accessory dwelling units. As more residents want to age in place, having the option to move into a smaller unit on your property while being able to rent out the larger home, allows income and stability for you to stay in your neighborhood.
The building of ADU’s in multi-family developments like in single-family lots provides additional needed housing by infill. Around the city there are many examples of 2-5-unit complexes and these types of units are needed for the “missing middle" income earners. I am proud of the housing plan that Gilroy City Council, Planning Commission, Staff, and the Public approved in 2023. It will create programs to build rental/owner opportunities like ADUs, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexs.
The city just launched a program in our housing plan. The Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program includes pre-designed “model” plans for ADUs that meet zoning, building, and fire codes. If the site-specific plan and required documents are accurate and complete, permits may be issued within 15 working days. The program is modeled after successful programs implemented in other cities. The city worked with the Santa Clara County Planning Collaborative and joined the ADU Advisory Committee. The Collaborative and Advisory Committee worked to create a subregional program of pre-designed ADU plans and a variety of ADU tools and resources that can be available to all residents and cities in Santa Clara County to encourage ADU production.
The city will continue to track the number of building permits issued for ADUs annually and review geographic distributions of ADUs biennially. If the average ADU production is less than 25 units in years 2023 (38), 2024, and 2025, the City will update the ADU strategy by the end of 2026. In this case, the city will hold a focus group event with local stakeholders in Spring or Fall 2026. The purpose of the collaborative meeting will be to identify appropriate ADU programs to help increase production. If necessary, the city will identify additional Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) sites, since ADUs play a role in meeting our RHNA housing goals inside our housing plan. We promise to increase the number of new ADUs permitted in the city from an average of approximately 15.75 (2018-2021) to an average of approximately 25.
Here’s an example scenario. A senior couple owns a single-family home in a standard neighborhood. They raised their family in this home and they want to age in place, they just don’t need a home this large anymore, and they want to supplement their current income. They decide to build an ADU in the backyard. They then rent out the home and move into the ADU located in the backyard with a separate side entrance.
The City’s Housing and Community Services Division places a high priority on providing quality housing opportunities for all residents. This focused Division within the Community Development Department and the Housing and Community Services Manager, enable the city to make more concentrated efforts on affordable housing production, preservation, and protection of residents. The Housing and Community Services Manager provides a higher level of expertise and leads a division focusing on housing functions. With the division consisting of the Manager and Technician position, the division implements projects and programs to address housing needs for a diverse community and provide assistance to families and individuals that are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.