Springfield extends fee waiver for secondary small houses to promote affordable rentals

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - Thurston-area homeowner Larry Ruhe found out last year about the City of Springfield's program for accessory dwelling units and decided to check it out.

"It only made sense for us to try to make our property pay for itself," Ruhe says, "and we looked into the City on doing an accessory dwelling unit."

Think of cottages or tiny houses that property owners can build on their single-family home lots.

"And in that way create most likely a rental unit that would meet the need for a family member," says Comprehensive Planning Manager Sandy Belson, who says this is another tool in the toolbox for Springfield to try to meet its rising need for affordable housing.

"This is an incremental way to increase those smaller units that help to meet that need."

They can be small houses built toward the front of properties, as in Larry's case. Other ADUs appear in back yards or are garage conversions.

"They made it a great process," says Ruhe. "They were great to work with. Definitely wasn't a headache, like you hear a lot of people talk about."

The biggest change in the new program last year was the City waiving all the system development charges on ADUs. For Ruhe, it makes the project possible.

"You're looking at, more than likely, depending on the size of the ADU you are doing, upwards of $8,000-9000 in savings."

Officials have voted to continue waiving the ADU development fees for another three years.

A final vote is set for next month.