Developing Sustainable ADU Guidelines for San Jose, CA
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Date
2019-06-18
Authors
Stagi, Shelby
Journal Title
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Abstract
Many US cities are experiencing exceptionally high
housing costs and housing shortages, this is especially true in
California, where housing costs greatly exceed those of the rest of
the nation. State law-makers and municipalities are looking for
ways to quickly improve the housing crisis. A promising strategy
for affordable housing can be found in low-density single family
neighborhoods; Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) offer the
opportunity to increase housing options, without greatly affecting
city character and existing infrastructure.
This project explores the potential of ADUs as a strategy
for sustainable growth in municipal density at multiple scales.
Currently ADUs are seen as sustainable options simply because of
their smaller footprint, but little research has been done to further
develop responsible ecologically and socially driven housing
opportunities. This project addresses the need for density while
striving for comfortable spaces that meet the needs of residents as
well as addressing the city’s goals for sustainability. This project
identifies barriers that prevent widespread implementation
of ADUs in San Jose, California through analysis of case
studies of municipal policy and surveys. Site scale designs and
performance analysis demonstrate that sustainable ADU design
can be added to residential lots while improving environmental
performance through on-site stormwater treatment, energy
savings, and a balance between privacy and communal space.
Policy recommendations further explore options to address these
concerns and mitigate potential negative impacts. This project
shows that sustainable ADU models can address many concerns
about densification and identifies challenges and benefits for
homeowners.
Description
109 pages. Examining committee chair: Yekang Ko
Keywords
Accessory dwelling unit, San Jose, CA, Landscape architecture, ADU, Tiny house, Sustainable guidelines