It was late but it was worth it, the Housing Element has been updated to incorporate some of the comments that were collected during the 30 day comment period and it’s made the document a lot better.
If you see anything in underline text, that means it’s been added. A strikethrough means it has been removed. Here’s some great additions and deletions:
This is one is pretty epic though, it feels like a direct response to the Harbor Bay Neighbors resolution saying that no new housing should be located on Bay Farm ever:
The education portion is tightened up considerably as well which is perfect since it was pretty awful before.
I think, based on this work, this Housing Element which is doing the absolute “minimal” here to get certified may be on the right track, after all:
Blogging Bayport Alameda 
Does any of this make it less complicated/costly to subdivide single family homes into separate units?
Comment by Allan Mann — May 17, 2022 @ 8:21 am
You can already create another unit via the JADU (https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/assets/public/departments/alameda/comm-services/formsandhandouts/planning/adu-faq.pdf). JADUs can be within the existing SFH.
Comment by Lauren Do — May 17, 2022 @ 8:41 am
ADUs and JADUs have significant space limitations that make them financially infeasible. City codes require upgrades akin to new construction that make retrofitting an older home prohibitively expensive. There must be a better way if we’re serious about adding housing.
Comment by Allan Mann — May 17, 2022 @ 10:35 am
JADUs can be a bedroom conversion (doesn’t need a bathroom or separate entrance) as long as the common space is accessible.
Comment by Lauren Do — May 17, 2022 @ 10:40 am
We have a three level home that is now too big for us and are converting the basement to an ADU because it was not previous livable space. We have created a comfortable one-bedroom space for us on the main floor. The 900 sq ft top floor could easily be a separate two bedroom unit but the city limits us to a 500 sq ft JADU because it’s current living space. The cost of creating such a small JADU that meets city codes isn’t justified by the return on the investment. That’s one less contribution to the RHNA requirement. We can’t be the only ones trying to downsize and age in place by creating revenue-producing units in a house that is now too big for us.
Comment by Allan Mann — May 17, 2022 @ 11:35 am
BTW, we are in an R4 zone.
Comment by Allan Mann — May 17, 2022 @ 12:05 pm
There’s something in the HE about establishing a low interest loan program to finance ADU construction. This could be huge if done right if tied to deed restricting these ADUs. Keep an eye out for this, I think your example is perfect for something like this.
Comment by Lauren Do — May 17, 2022 @ 12:37 pm
The draft zoning amendments coming with the Housing Element include changes that would allow your home in the R-4 to be split into multiple units exactly as you mention. How that gets implemented with building codes and design guidelines will take some figuring, but that is exactly the intent.
Comment by BMac — May 18, 2022 @ 8:11 am
That’s good to know because if I understand how things stand now with SB9, I could create 4 units if my home were in a single family zone, but I am limited to 2 1/2 units in a higher density zone. Doesn’t make sense.
Comment by Allan Mann — May 18, 2022 @ 8:20 am