Public input sought on city plan for 'granny flat' designs

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Residents will have an opportunity to provide input about the design of accessory dwelling units the City of Menifee will include in a new grant-funded program.

In the ADU program, City staff is creating concept plans of four options for an ADU of no more than 1,200 square feet to be added to residential lots. An ADU, also referred to as an “in-law unit” or “granny flat”, is an attached or detached structure that provides independent living facilities for one or more people. The City’s program offers plans for detached ADUs.

City officials acknowledge that many residential developments in Menifee do not have room for such a separate structure, and many plans have the option of a third-car garage or a separate bedroom that can be used as an attached ADU. Newer developments with 10,000-square-foot-lots and larger rural lots can accommodate such structures, however.

According to the plan, residents who participate and choose one of the pre-designed plans save time and expense because the building permits and plan checks are already approved by city staff. Construction must follow the plans exactly, however.

“We have seen an increase in interest in these structures, and to be honest, an ADU is an easy way for the number of [housing] units to meet the City’s RHNA,” said Cheryl Kitzerow, community development director for the City of Menifee, referring to the state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Allocation.

“These are plans are for detached units. In general, ADUs can be either, but the plans we’re putting together are for detached units. There are too many unknowns of what an existing unit has, in order to design a set of plans to attach it to in this program.”

Kitzerow said at least one city in San Diego County has adopted an ADU program, and she believes Menifee is the first city in Riverside County to do so. She said the basic design is for a studio size dwelling, with an add-on option for a one-bedroom unit, a second add-on option for a two-bedroom dwelling, and a third option for a three-bedroom dwelling.

“It all builds off the basic rectangular design,” she said, “The only threshold is it has to be 1,200 square feet or less.”

A meeting will be held Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 29844 Haun Road, to introduce concept plans and receive public input.

For more information, visit https://www.cityofmenifee.us/751/Accessory-Dwelling-Units. For questions, contact Doug Darnell, senior planner in the Community Development Department, at 951-723-3744 or via e-mail at ddarnell@cityofmenifee.us.