Everywhere you look, you will find that Asbury Park is on trend or trending: Their latest effort is the preparation of a draft ordinance to allow smaller homes – not quite tiny houses but nearly so – to be built on land that already houses a larger single family home.
Michele Alonso, Asbury Park’s director of Planning and Redevelopment, has been developing an ordinance permitting what are called accessory dwelling units. The idea was unveiled to an enthusiastic City Council which first asked her to take on the topic and which is gaining traction throughout the country. It is a particularly popular subject among senior advocates such as the Association for Retired Persons because it is one measure that allows older residents “to age in -place.”
“They are sometimes referred to as a soft increase in density because they are not intended to change the character of the neighborhood,” Alonso said. “They are not supposed to be highly visible. They are not supposed to be noticeable.
“They go by many names,” she said. “They can be called accessory apartments, secondary suites or granny flats.”
In Asbury Park, the median value of a single-family home is upwards of $500,000. Creating more housing opportunities allows those who cannot make that price-point – often the young and senior citizens- to opt for smaller homes because they don’t need the space and cannot afford the upkeep on larger homes – to remain in the neighborhoods they love, near family or close to jobs.
“We recognize there may not be a lot of small units in the city at affordable prices,” Alonso said. But this ordinance, which is in line with the city’s master plan “would meet the (affordable housing) goals because it would put more affordable units in an R1 zone” which is the city’s most restrictive single-family housing zone.
Mayor John B. Moor said it was unlikely the ordinance would be finished by the next meeting but those who have ideas and suggestions may contact Alonso to have conversations.
This is not an ordinance that relates to two-family houses. Those who own such dwellings would need to seek variances to utilize this provision, if this provision gets approved.
Asbury Park would be one of the few communities to approve ADUs, according to the Regional Plan Association. Maplewood, Princeton, Bradley Beach and East Orange have them in place while Newark, Montclair and South Orange are moving ahead with drafts.
The problem, planners said, is that no uniformity exists among the local laws which is why proponents are hopeful that a state law will be approved.
Bills A1987 and S345 have been introduced in the Legislature but are awaiting review by the state Office of Legislative Services. “Our goal here in Asbury Park is to provide more varied housing without changing the character of the neighborhood,” Alonso said.
Asbury Park’s ordinance would require detached construction that would be owner-occupied. They could be conversion of existing garages or new construction such as stand-alone cottages.
But those who seek to build must be mindful of the existing rules for lot coverage because new construction cannot exceed that. New construction also will not likely include approvals for balconies or any other additions that could impact the privacy of neighbors, Alonso said. She noted she even considers a deck as encroaching on a neighbor’s privacy where a standard patio may not.
A single property could not have more than one accessory unit, according to the ordinance.
The height of a new dwelling could not exceed 20 feet and one parking space must be provided. The city would offer an incentive program for those constructing affordable units. Those constructing affordable units would receive $20,000 off the cost of construction while those constructing a unit made for low income residents would receive $30,000 and those constructing for very low income would receive $35,000. The property must be deed restricted for 10 years.
The accessory unit can not be a short-term rental, would require an annual license and be subject to annual reporting and monitoring, Alonso said.
