MATAGUAL‐MELROSE PROJECT APPROVED FOR VISTA

The new residential project of 34 homes proposed by True Life Companies for 560 and 622 South Melrose, was unanimously approved by Vista City Council members on June 27. True Life Companies was complimented by neighbors, City Council members, and SVC for its engagement with and willingness to work with the community for a much improved project.

TOWN HALL FOR BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY SITE

NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT —
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) ‐ a Primer Part 2 Selected Highlights of Recent Changes to ADU Laws
Over the years, State ADU Law has been revised to improve its effectiveness at creating more housing units. Changes to State ADU Law effective January 1, 2021, further reduce barriers, streamline approval processes, and expand capacity to accommodate the development of ADUs and JADUs.

1. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are an essential component of California’s housing supply. ADU ordinances adopted by a local agency should be not so arbitrary, excessive, or burdensome that they unreasonably restrict the ability of homeowners to create ADUs in zones authorized by local ordinance.
2. ADUs must be permitted in any residential or mixed-use zone, broadly construed to mean any
   zone where residential uses are permitted by-right or by conditional use.
3. An ADU does not count toward the allowable density.
4. ADUs subject to State ADU Law must be considered, approved, and permitted ministerially, without discretionary action within 60 days from the date of completed application submission
5. ADUs are allowed within a historic district and on lots where the primary residence is subject to historic preservation. State ADU Law allows for a local agency to impose standards that prevent adverse impacts on any real property that is listed in the California Register of Historical Resources. This does not apply to a statewide exemption ADU (an ADU of up to 800 square feet, 16 feet in height, and with four-foot side and rear yard setbacks).
6. While local governments may impose certain development standards on ADUs, these shall not include minimum lot size requirements. A local government may establish minimum and maximum unit size requirements for ADUs; but must allow an ADU of at least 850 square feet, or 1,000 square feet if with more than one bedroom.
7. Local agencies may utilize a percentage (e.g., 50 percent) of the primary dwelling as a maximum unit size for attached ADUs, but only if it does not restrict an ADU’s size to less than the standard of at least 850 square feet (or at least 1,000 square feet for ADUs with more than one bedroom). Maximum unit sizes can exceed 1,200 square feet for ADUs through the adoption of a local ADU ordinance.
8. There is no height limit contained in State ADU Law, but local agencies may impose height limits provided that the limit is no less than 16 feet.
9. A limit on the number of bedrooms could be construed as a discriminatory practice and would be considered a constraint on the development of ADUs.
10. An ADU is exempt from incurring impact fees from local agencies, special districts, and water corporations if less than 750 square feet.
11. The updates to State ADU Law remove the owner-occupancy requirement for newly created ADUs effective January 1, 2020.
12. Local agencies may require the property be used for rentals on terms longer than 30 days.
13. JADUs are limited to one per residential lot with a single-family residence. They do not require
    an interior connection to the primary dwelling but may allow entry to bathroom facilities in
14. the primary dwelling. The owner must reside in either the primary residence or the newly cre-
15. ated JADU.
16. A manufactured home qualifies as an ADU.
17. Sections of the Civil Code preclude common interest developments (HOAs) from prohibiting
    or unreasonably restricting the construction or use, including the renting or leasing of, an
    ADU on a lot zoned for single-family residential use.
18. Covenants, conditions and restrictions that either effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict
    the construction or use of an ADU or JADU on such lots are void and unenforceable or may
    be liable for actual damages and payment of a civil penalty.
19. Local governments may choose not to adopt an ADU ordinance. If so, any proposed ADU de-
    velopment would be subject only to standards set in State ADU Law. If a local agency adopts
20. an ADU ordinance, it may impose zoning, development, design, and other standards in compliance with State ADU Law.

TREES FOR VISTA

THANK YOU, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT!
According to Public Works Dept. Director Kuna Muthusamy, “We planted about 20 Brisbane Box
(Tristaniopsis conferta) [shown here] in November of 2022. These are part of the various grants that we have received from the State working with the Urban Corps of San Diego. PWD, through various grants, has planted about 800 plus trees throughout the city this past 4 years and will continue to do so.”
PWD continues to make Vista a beautiful place to live.

NEW CONSTRUCTION ON SOUTH MELROSE

What’s that new construction on South Melrose, just south of the Hyatt Place Hotel at Faraday?

Two new drive-through restaurants — Wendy’s and Dutch Bros. Coffee.