ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst is still considering allowing a certain type of home that supporters say will make local housing more affordable.
As part of updating its code, the city is looking at allowing “accessory dwelling units,” commonly known as “granny flats.”
Accessory dwelling units come with a full kitchen and bathroom. They can be within a house, attached to a house or detached.
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The city’s draft ordinance would allow such units in local single-family neighborhoods if certain requirements are met.
Recently, a couple of city committees decided to remove the provision allowing the units from the 219 pages of proposed updates and consider the issue separately, Alderwoman Marti Deuter told Patch in an email Tuesday.
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“As discussed, it’s a substantive policy issue that warrants focused discussions,” Deuter said.
At Monday’s City Council meeting, Dan Virgil, who lives in the 500 block of South Fairview Avenue, urged aldermen to allow accessory dwelling units.
“ADUs are a very good option for addressing the affordable housing crisis we have,” Virgil said. “They have a possibility of helping a variety of different groups – seniors, young people who are trying to move into Elmhurst but can’t afford it otherwise and those who may work in Elmhurst but are not in high-paying jobs but want to live where they work.”
For a few years, Virgil and his wife, Nicole Virgil, fought for the right for Elmhurst residents to have “hoop houses,” where food can be grown in the winter. They succeeded.
Last month, the city indicated on its website that it received 18 comments both for and against accessory dwelling units.
On June 14, Patch filed a public records request to see those comments. Under state law, the city was supposed to respond to that request within five business days. But Patch has not heard back.
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