All you people out there who worked hard all your lives to live in a single-family neighborhood or think you’re safe from increased congestion in a homeowners association (HOA) managed development, get ready for a relatively new state law that can impact your quality of life.
On June 10, the Lompoc Planning Commission debated a change to the Lompoc municipal code to address an evolving and misguided effort by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to address the lack of housing. The HCD says, “Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs) are innovative and effective options for adding much needed housing in California.”
The city staff report explains that “an ADU is a dwelling unit that is accessory to a primary residence and has complete independent living facilities for one or more persons. A JADU is a specific type of accessory unit that is contained entirely within an existing or proposed single-family residence and is limited to 500 square feet.”
This all sounds like a good idea to the political class but will ultimately lead to a substantial increase in population density in areas originally designed for single-family living.
When originally developed, the environmental impact reports required by the California Environmental Quality Act for these projects only envisioned much less water, wastewater, and electric use, but now those systems will need to handle an increased need. And the traffic circulation system was designed for far fewer vehicles. But the staff report says that “the proposed amendments are exempt from California Environmental Quality Act review.”
What about parking? Quoting from the state accessory dwelling handbook: “When a garage, carport, uncovered parking space, or covered parking structure is demolished in conjunction with the construction of an ADU, or converted to an ADU, the local agency shall not require that those off-street parking spaces for the primary unit be replaced.”
When one of the ADU units is occupied by two adults you can bet two vehicles will follow. Thus, streets will become more congested with parked vehicles. And where will the original occupants put their RVs, boats, or other toys they have accumulated?
“Are certain ADUs exempt from parking requirements? Yes. A local agency shall not impose parking standards on any of the following ADUs, pursuant to government code section 66322, subdivision (a): 1) ADUs located within one-half mile walking distance of public transit (a bus stop).” This will lead to an increase in on-street parking, which is already at a premium.
If you think that because you live in a gated community or HOA managed project, you’re safe from this program, you’re not. Again, quoting from the state accessory dwelling handbook: “Homeowners associations (HOAs), can CC&Rs prohibit the construction or use of an ADU or JADU? No.”
On June 10, the Lompoc Planning Commission approved a resolution stating, “City staff recognizes that state law will control over the city’s municipal code and further recommends inclusion of new language acknowledging that in the event of a conflict between the LMC and California Accessory Dwelling Law, that state law will control.”
In other words, “local control” is an inoperative phrase, and previous zoning and development standards regarding housing are null and void. “The state” knows better, so suck it up. And these laws apply to all local jurisdictions in the state.
But some areas may be exempt because property owners don’t want all that congested living. Folks living on estates in the Santa Ynez Valley, Montecito, and Hope Ranch, many who strongly support the elected officials who promoted this idea, have lots of open space available that could accommodate hundreds and perhaps thousands of new homes to relieve the “housing problem,” but they will be content to let the “little people” absorb the additional congestion.
So, keep voting for the same old political party and your quality of life and the things you worked for will continue to deteriorate while the hypocritical idle rich look down on you from their lofty perches.
Ron Fink writes to the Sun from Lompoc. Respond with an opinion of your own by emailing it to letters@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in June 25 – July 2, 2026.
