HomeMy WebLinkAbout08. (Handout) Communications from Mr. Pope and others.pdf S.
C �
Wayne and Gloria Pope
322 Third Avenue South
Pacheco,Ca 94553
September 6,2017
Thomas Brightbill
Contra Costa Sanitary District
5019 Imhoff I11.
Martinez,CA 94553
Dear Thomas Brightbill,
My wife and I wish to convert our existing accessory unit, a rear-side yard shop, into an In-
law unit (ADU). I received a quote of$7,954.00 on 8/24/17 for sewer tie-in (to existing
lateral) for this planned living unit. Most of this fee cost consist of the Capacity Fee (over
$5,300). We are an owner and builder of the unit and feel that the capacity fee is
unreasonable, given that we are converting an existing*280 sq. ft. unit to a living ADU. We
are not adding on, merely adding a bathroom and kitchenette to the inside. As per the new
laws (SB 1069), existing ADU utility fees should be reasonable. The intent of the State of
California is to encourage ADUs to help with severely needed low cost housing. In
addition, these units can help retired homeowners supplement their fixed incomes,
therefore enabling them to stay in their homes longer in this high cost area. Such is the case
with Gloria and 1. We have waited several years until this year to build our In-law only to
be discouraged by the extremely high connection fees from CCWD and CCCSD. The
CCCSD capacity fee alone is almost 50`x, of our total project estimate. We are appealing to
You for relief from the high capacity fee which has been discouraging our project.
Sincerely,
Wayne and Gloria Pope
925-681-9257
Elaine Boehme
From: Mark Larkin <mlarkin@wisdirect.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2017 7:59 AM
To: Elaine Boehme
Subject: FW: Sewer connection cost to ADU or SHOP
Elaine Boehme,
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
c/o Elaine Boehme,Secretary of the District, and Board members
It is my understanding that the Board will hear(on Thursday the 2111) an appeal from one Mr. Pop asking for a waver of
"hook-up"/ usage fees for his forthcoming ADU.
I also hereby request your consideration concerning my own ADU.
As Thomas Brightbill has stated to me he anticipates the state Governor will sign the clean-up bill 229 and after the 151 of
the year I would be saved est. $5,000 in costs.
I would happily pay the cost if the Governor does not sign SB 229 into law; however in the meanwhile we in the district
are all confronted with a very tight labor force, we are also coming up against the rainy season. In the interest of the
economy as a whole and for the sake of progress I ask the board to grant a waiver to my ADU project:
Larkin ADU: 961 Irvin Ct., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
I have spoken with the City of Pleasant Hill Planning and they have agreed that I could as a second step permit a "Shop"
with a bathroom which would not be imposed with the sewer hook-up costs, and then after the 1St of the year before
the project is complete convert my permit to an ADU, only when I spoke to your permits office I was told that I would
not be allowed to plum which is problematic given I plan a slab on grade under grade plumbing.
Please allow me to forgo the wait, save the expense and begin my project without the hook-up usage expense which is
the spirit of the SB 1069 and SB 229.
Thank you,
Mark Larkin
961 Irvin Ct.
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Elaine Boehme
From: Lenny Semis <lenny_semis@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2017 12:41 PM
To: Elaine Boehme
Cc: Thomas Brightbill; Lenny Semis
Subject: Letter to support Wayne Pope's ADU fees appeal at today's board meeting
Dear Elaine Boehme:
I am writing this letter to express my support for Wayne Pope's ADU fees appeal.
While I do not know Mr.Wayne Pope I am in a similar situation as him. I started building my personal home in the
district in 2015. 1 did not include any ADU plans when I filed to remodel my house after learning that an additional unit
will cost me$20,000 or more in fees between all the governing departments.This was a cost I could-not add into my
planning phase and proceeded without a second unit.
A little over a year later I learned about the new direction for ADU fees and patiently waited for the bills/propositions to
pass. In the meantime I started making and filing plans for a second unit under the assumption that there will be no fees
for it.
Contra Costa took 6 months to finalize and in June/July of 2017 1 was ready to proceed until I learned that special
districts wording were somehow not included in the original bill even though it was brought to the state's attention that
they were not, but should be.
The latest I've heard is that SB229 has passed both in the senate and the assembly and should be presented to the
governor,who's expected to sign into law. I understand this takes time and we won't have anything finalized until a few
months from now. Frustrating, but understandable, and we know that it's just a matter of time.
I strongly urge the board to consider Mr. Pope's appeal.
For my situation,which I've already discussed with Mr.Thomas Brightbill, I am currently in the process of completing
additions and alterations to an existing single family house.Approved plans specify space on the second floor with a
separate entrance from the outside that includes a living room,two bedrooms, one bathroom and a bar with a sink.
I am planning to convert the space into an ADU and have been waiting this entire year for the bill to be finalized.
The proposed unit will not require any new sanitary sewer connection. Further,the space measuring approximately
1,000 SF will not require any additional sanitary fixtures because it already has an approved full bathroom and sink.
In light of the absence of additional sewer discharge it is not reasonable to be charged for simply adding a legal
description to a portion of the existing building.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Lenny Semis
415-728-6500
1