We have owned and lived in our home for approximately 21 years. In our neighborhood our house is on a slope with a much larger front yard than backyard. Our children grew up and left town because they could no longer afford to live here. Under the current rules for ADUs, we could not build one in our backyard. As I understand it this amendment would correct that and allow us to build one in our backyard. I'm not sure why there's even a question about doing this we are in a serious housing crisis in this city and it seems like we need to use every possible means to address this housing shortage. I also agree with the provision that is part of this amendment which allows only one ADU on a property. That protects the neighborhood and protects our home values.
We're dealing with 75 years of urban sprawl planning that no longer serves the needs of this city. In the midst of a terrible housing crisis that seems like he just keeps getting worse and worse and more and more expensive it's time to rethink how we use our small lots in the CN zoned property. With this revision as I understand it it would allow townhomes and condos and other medium density housing options to be built. This seems like a reasonable revision in the current zoning laws to address our crisis state of housing in Knoxville.
8-C-23-OA Chris (37919), October 4, 2023 at 9:55 AM
I support this proposal. ADUs are a way to actually expand affordable housing throughout the city. While the "missing middle" proposal is a small step, it's insufficient because it doesn't necessarily mean the proposed housing will be affordable. ADUs will be. I have a couple of rental properties in South Knoxville that have the space for ADUs in the back yards, and I would build them within the year if allowed (especially if they were allowed to be a little bigger given the modest (i.e., affordable) house sizes on the lot already). As a landlord, rising rents are good for the bottom line, but they are short term gains if the city can't figure out its affordability problem. I actually don't feel very good when 20+ people apply for one of my houses when it comes up. ADU's (for non-owner occupied housing) is a serious solution to expand housing options sprinkled throughout neighborhoods (rather than concentrated in specific areas). And, the only way I could afford living in one of the most expensive markets in the USA (San Francisco) with my young family, was because of an ADU, so I have a personal experience on the receiving end. Allow, then streamline ADU development for non-owner-occupied parcels to move toward solving our affordability challenges.
