Are ADUs coming to Lake Tahoe? TRPA to hear draft housing code presentation, public invited

Earlier this month the TRPA Local Government and Housing Committee and Advisory Planning Commission heard presentations on a package of housing recommendations to help meet regional workforce housing needs and to implement Regional Plan goals of walkable communities. Both bodies recommended continuing to move the proposed amendments forward.

The changes target:
- Flexibility for allowing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

- Allowing non-conforming tourist density to be used for residential projects on-site, and
- Modifying the Residential Bonus Unit boundary to conform with previous planning efforts.

The Regional Plan Implementation Committee will hear an informational item on the recommendations on Wednesday, June 23rd, at 8:30 a.m. via GoToWebinar and the public is welcome to participate.

Register for the webinar HERE.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), also known as mother-in-law apartments or secondary residences, were a common housing type in neighborhoods built between the 1920s and the 1950s. Generally zoned out by modern codes, ADUs are increasingly being looked to as a key element in addressing housing needs, and recent legislation in California requires cities and counties across the state to allow them. ADUs can provide additional housing opportunities on the smaller end of the size scale, and they can allow homeowners the flexibility to share independent living areas with family members and others.

The Town of Vail has been able to provide workforce housing at a fraction of the cost of new construction and shown that each new workforce housing unit brings a five percent annual return on investment to the Town of Vail. Watch a video on their project.