The Ultimate Accessory

Adding a second unit in Laguna Beach has long been out of reach for homeowners. Now, new ADU laws inspire innovators like Kim Norton to create small units of affordable housing, offering hope that seniors, artists, and others will be able to stay in the city.

As a Laguna Beach local, Kim Norton has long been active in efforts to improve the town. Her efforts include improving the aesthetics and value of 25 or more single-family residences in town over the years, including her current home in the Temple Hills neighborhood. The expertise and insights she gained inspired her to join and ultimately chair the city’s Housing and Human Services Committee, where she worked to maintain the magic of Laguna that she believes is being lost as a result of housing issues. Of particular concern is the exodus of key members of the community, including essential local workers, seniors, city employees, artists, and others who can no longer afford to live in Laguna.

Design drawings for Kim Norton’s Accessory Dwelling Unit, the first ADU approved in Laguna Beach. Note the subterranean aspects and the green roof, intended to minimize impacts on neighbors.

“The project was an entire property re-envisioning that included the main house as the primary design inspiration, then the ADU as a key part of an expanded overall lifestyle and living experience. The design intention is to marry another residential unit seamlessly and privately to the main house redevelopment. The ADU had to work as a secondary design accessory to the main vision of the house.” -Kim Norton

Kim came to believe that a key way to address the housing issues in the city is by making it easier to plan, approve, and build Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs. Similar strategies were underway in Sacramento, and Kim got involved. Soon, new and amended state laws were in place that removed most barriers to building what in the past have been referred to as granny flats, in-law units, backyard cottages, secondary units, and more. Still, there was resistance to change in her hometown, so Kim decided to take on the challenge directly: by pushing for approval of an ADU on her own property, and in so doing working to ensure that Laguna enacted a new ordinance that included all mandatory components of the newly-amended state law.

It’s expensive to live in Laguna, but that hasn’t always been the case, correct?

There are a lot of people who have been homeowners in Laguna Beach since the ‘60s and ‘70s, teachers and other people, who frankly can’t afford to sell because there’s no way to pass along the inheritance without a huge tax. I’d hear them say, ‘If we could put in a guest house on our property, we could afford to age in place and rent the main house for passive income.’

What changed with the new ADU laws?

If a homeowner follows the rules, approval is mandatory. In Laguna Beach, that means no Design Review hearings. It’s ministerial, over-the-counter approval.

So no battles with neighbors?

I did speak to my neighbors, in the spirit of building goodwill and an endorsement for the concept. It’s social consciousness that the homeowner who’s going to put one in minimize impact and not be greedy with square footage. I designed my ADU with a green roof so that it blends into the hillside topography.

What are key design considerations when considering an ADU?

First and foremost is view, because everyone in Laguna is view-sensitive. Second would be compatibility to the site and the neighborhood. I think it’s important that when an ADU is designed they’re compatible and complementary to the main house. Size is also important, as I only pushed approval for 640 square feet versus the now 850-1,000 allowable, and 90 of that is an outdoor covered patio.

Your plan is for a pre-fab unit, but not a converted container unit?

To build an ADU of sticks and bricks, or traditional construction, is not cost effective. I started with alternative build ideas, including containers because they’re really just steel. But I’ve moved past the container idea, because people still just bristle when you say containers. Some think that it’s going to be some horrible rusted metal thing. So I have been exploring who is the most advanced in modular or pre-fab, and have focused on habitatadu.com.

Is there a concern about ADUs being short-term rentals?

Laguna doesn’t allow short-term rentals, so that’s part of the education. It’s important to educate people so that the fear part of the ADU movement dissipates, and they understand the social part of it. With education, people are less resistant to change, because the problem is real.

With your ADU approved, what’s next?

I see myself as a brand ambassador and evangelist for the ADU movement in California. This includes involvement with leaders in the space that are providing options and solutions with integrity, and staying involved both at the city level and at the state level, and lobbying to bring cohesive information to the consumers. I’m have also been making myself available as a consultant to owners, architects, speculators, and builders considering and evaluating ADU options.

A photo of the existing house and the slope below where the ADU wil be located.

ADU 101

• According to California state law, all single-family homes are allowed at least one Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). Additionally, single-family lots which are owner-occupied may create one Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and one Junior ADU.

• The Laguna Beach Design Review Board has no jurisdiction over ADUs in the city. California Government Code Section 65852.2(e) was expressly amended to provide for the ministerial and administrative (i.e., no CEQA or public hearing) approval of ADUs.

• The local agency cannot require parking for the ADU if: The ADU is located within one-half mile walking distance of public transit; When there is a car share vehicle located within one block of the ADU, or the ADU is located within an architecturally and historically significant historic district.

• The local agency must act on an application within 60 days (reduced from 120 days) and the application is deemed approved if not acted upon within such timeframe.

• ADUs are an innovative, affordable, effective option for adding much-needed housing in California.

• ADUs are an affordable type of home to construct in California because they do not require paying for land, major new infrastructure, structured parking, or elevators.

• ADUs can provide a source of income for homeowners.

• ADUs can be built with costeffective steel, wood, and pre-fab frame construction, which is significantly less costly than homes in new multi-family infill buildings.

• ADUs allow extended family members to be near one another while maintaining privacy.

• ADUs can provide as much living space as many newly-built apartments and condominiums, and they’re suited well for couples, small families, friends, young people, and seniors.

• ADUs give homeowners the flexibility to share independent living areas with family members and others, allowing seniors to age in place as they require more care.

• ADUs can provide professional home-based office space as many people and companies offer, or will require, work from home solutions post-COVID-19.

With COVID-19, it became more clear how important outside experience areas are, but also how important private retreats and living quarters had become, whether it be for family, professional environment, entertainment, or even a medical retreat space.

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