Tempe City Council has passed a resolution to create a library of pre-approved designs for Accessory Dwelling Units. When finalized, Tempe will join Flagstaff and Tucson in offering pre-approved designs.
Homeowners wishing to construct the small backyard homes will be able to select options from the designs, which promises savings in both time and money for those constructing ADUs.
These savings include waiving the Plan Review Fee, which the city says makes up 65% of the typical building permit cost. Library designs will be available to Tempe property owners at a fixed cost of $2,000 and will receive faster permitting.
The city claims this will save those building an ADU $10,000 or more in fees and design costs. This program should make it both faster and cheaper to actually produce new homes for Tempe residents.
To pick the pre-approved designs, a competition will take place where architects and designers can submit ADU concepts. Up to ten designs will be chosen by a panel of professionals and community members based on set criteria which includes, aesthetics, cost, sustainability, and accessibility.
Residents can vote on the designs from August 18-29 and the final designs will be available online this fall.
The right direction
Tempe moving on pre-approved ADU designs shows the city wants to see this key housing reform work.
This is a welcome change in direction and we encourage City Council and staff to continue finding ways to go beyond what state law requires to boost housing production.
Over the years, we have been critical of the city for fighting statewide housing reforms, while slowly putting forward subpar housing policies that fall short of the necessary response to our housing shortage.
Unfortunately, the city’s current approach to allowing affordable Missing Middle homes looks like the old status quo, with Tempe attempting to use every lever and loophole to limit where new housing could be built.
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