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Granny Flats Put on the Fast Track
| In Santa Barbara we have a housing problem. There just aren't enough affordable units for people to live in. One way to alleviate this problem would be to expedite the construction of what are called "Granny Flats." These flats are basically guest houses. To speed up the process of approving these second units the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervirsors enacted an urgency ordinance Tuesday. The new ordinance approved unanimously by the supervisors allows over-the-counter permits for second housing units. This would eliminate the protracted public hearings involved previously. The ordinance is in effect for 45 days and after that county offcials are expected to bring a series of extensions before the supervisors giving time for interst groups to discuss development standards and voice concerns. The issue is at the heart of the affordable housing for low and middle income wage earners problem. To see what the requirements for a second unit are, click here |