Gilroy's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Program

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. 

Happy New Year

With 2024 in the rear-view mirror, on February 12 at 9am the new Gilroy City Council will meet for our bi-annual strategic planning session. This is where the 2026-2027 Legislative Work Plan and City Council goals will be established. This will be the foundation for the upcoming two-year budget process.

This year I will focus on continuing to move Gilroy into the 21st century, building upon the relationships I’ve made, legislative items in our work plan, and introducing new items. We will focus on our Zoning Ordinance (Bike Parking, Noise Impacting Residentially Zoned Properties), Tobacco Prevention, Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, Accessory Dwelling Units, Opportunity Sites/Programs in our Housing Element 2023-2031, Parking Management/Enforcement, Transportation Demand Management/Vehicle Miles Traveled Policy/Climate Action Plan, Safe Storage of Firearms, Community Plan to End Homelessness, Transit First Policy, Plan for the Community Center/Youth Center and Civic Center Master Plan, and State Legislative Bills.

Year-to-date my office has worked with our State and Federal legislators to secure $5.2 million for project funding that directly benefits our residents, from a bike/ped trail extension on the westside, San Ysidro Park on the eastside, and an enhanced crosswalk for senior housing on the southside. We will begin to break ground on these community projects in 2025. 

I am proud of the future housing plan that the Gilroy City Council, Planning Commission, staff and the public have approved. We commit to advancing the 40 opportunity sites for multi-family homes, downtown expansion district and First Street mixed-use corridor flexibility program, 429 corner lots for the middle income housing program, housing for farmworkers program, and our inclusionary housing ordinance. Empowered through our local control, we will implement these programs and follow through with what we have promised to our residents. By doing this we will become eligible for funding toward implementing our programs and provide housing for all. We are now pulling in the same direction as the region’s long-range plan for housing, transportation, economy and the environment known as Plan Bay Area 2050. It calls for creating compact walkable communities by promoting high-density housing and mixed-use development near transit stations and in existing urban areas. 

We advocate for building and planning that considers future generations as well as current residents who don’t own cars. Advancing mobility options reflects what we are teaching the youth in our community through Safe Routes to School and why we are nationally recognized as a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community from the League of American Bicyclists, as well as recognized by the World Health Organization as an Age-Friendly Community. The City of Gilroy is a Complete Streets and Recreation Destination community by resolution. 

My office sponsored, tabled, hosted a booth, and attended more than 100 community events in 2024. We provided free resources, bike lights, bike helmets, and listened to constituents, at events including Chalk Fest, La Ofrenda Festival, Registrar of Voters High School Education Events, Free Bike Repair and Bike Days, Community Posadas, and School Family Resource Fairs. 

La Ofrenda Festival

Nestled in the heart of Downtown Gilroy, the La Ofrenda Festival | Gilroy’s 2nd Annual Día de Muertos Festival & Wellness Fair on November 2 1-7pm will be an extraordinary event and is more than just a day of festivities; it’s an immersive experience that embraces the essence of Día de Muertos – a time when families come together to honor their departed loved ones and celebrate the eternal bond between the living and the deceased. With vibrant ofrendas (altars) adorned with marigold flowers, moving performances, a community bike ride, and a variety of talented artists, our festival promises an unforgettable experience that will leave a lasting impression on the South County community and beyond. La Ofrenda Festival is made possible with a Gilroy Elevate the Arts Grant, a program of SVCreates, with support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, City of Gilroy, County of Santa Clara and fiscally sponsored by Local Color, 501c3. https://www.laofrendafestival.com 

Gilroy’s La Ofrenda Festival is bringing together a cross section of sponsorships and partnerships from government, education, health, private sector, arts, transportation, culture, non-profits, labor workforce and more. Arts are alive in Gilroy. In 2021, I was contacted by SV Creates (Santa Clara County Arts Council) to build a relationship that wasn’t here prior in Gilroy. From those first initial meetings blossomed into an Arts Círculo held at 6th St Art Studios and around the corner at the Neon Exchange. Today we have a monthly Arts Roundtable, Third Friday Art Walk, Chalk Fest, La Ofrenda Festival, and doors continue to open. 

We provide year-round bicycle, pedestrian, and transit education and encouragement opportunities through programs and policies that promote our community leaving their car at home and choosing to walk/bike/roll/ and take transit. This helps teach our residents safe walking and biking skills, reduces traffic and air pollution, and helps you get more physical activity. La Ofrenda Festival will have many experiences for you including a Community Bike Ride, Bike Valet, Bike Rodeo, Helmet Fittings, Bike Education, Wellness Vendors, next to our Transit & Mobility Plaza. This year’s presenting sponsor Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) will be bringing their Dream Home mobile demonstration, where community members can learn about and interact with electric equipment and appliances.

Advancing mobility options reflects what we are teaching the youth in our community through Safe Routes to School and why we are nationally recognized as a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community from the League of American Bicyclists, as well as recognized by the World Health Organization as an Age-Friendly Community.

                                         

The City of Gilroy celebrates the role that the arts and creativity play in helping us navigate a pandemic, amplify the need for racial equity, and highlight the power of the arts to change our lives for the better. The Gilroy Arts & Culture Commission and SV Creates work in partnership to support the arts and creativity in Gilroy as an essential part of our thriving community. SV Creates partners locally with the Gilroy Arts & Culture Commission and Gilroy Arts Roundtable to include the City of Gilroy with a network of leaders who care about the resilience of our arts ecosystem and its impact to our community. They are conveners, promoters, incubators, and funders of the arts with a mission to elevate Silicon Valley’s creative culture. The City of Gilroy recognizes that the arts and creativity support student success and life-long learning, provide key job skills, and bring joy to our community while strengthening our connections; and values partnering with SV Creates and State-level organizations to promote unified support for the arts.