Logan should allow backyard cottages
June 1, 2024
Below is a letter Logan YIMBY helped draft and write.
Below is a letter Logan YIMBY helped draft and write. You can read the full letter in the Herald Journal here:
We, the undersigned Logan residents, wish to express our strong support for the City Council allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) throughout our city. This policy change is a first step toward addressing our housing affordability crisis.
ADUs, or secondary units on existing residential properties, provide a gentle increase in housing density without dramatically altering the character of our neighborhoods. Areas such as the Adams neighborhood and those near Utah State University's campus are particularly well-suited for this type of development.
As long-time residents of Cache Valley, we have witnessed the growing challenges in finding affordable and suitable housing. Over the past few years, rents and home prices have soared, making it increasingly difficult for many to find housing within their means. By permitting more ADUs, Logan can increase the housing supply, which will help alleviate these pressures. In their June 2022 report, the Cache County Housing Crisis Task Force identified the housing shortage as a primary reason for rising prices. Other researchers come to the same conclusion.
Of course, ADUs alone won't solve the housing shortage. They are a vital part of the solution. Jenny Schuetz of the Brookings Institution aptly noted that “local governments with severe housing shortages and strong upward pressure on rents should think of ADU reform as probably the tip of the iceberg and not the whole ball game.” ADUs can provide additional income for homeowners, offer housing options for family members or caregivers, and help maintain the fabric of our communities. This is why backyard cottages are supported by housing advocates as diverse as Strong Towns and the American Association of Retired Persons.
We acknowledge that there are concerns about noise and nuisance. These issues are valid and can be addressed through proper regulations and enforcement of noise ordinances. However, research contradicts the idea that nuisances commonly follow ADUs. A study of California’s ADU changes found “no evidence that an ADU has a nuisance effect on nearby property values.” Thoughtful integration of ADUs simply adds a new range of housing options—making room for growth and change.
