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Since the scope of"covered units" and nature of required accessibility features is so clearly defined in Title 24 and the CBC and staff does not believe expanding the scope of such requirements could be reasonably tied to specific local topographic, geographic or climatic conditions, it is not permissible to adopt a mandatory building code (or similar standards) for enhanced accessibility for existing covered units, as part of the PMC or other similar body of local legislation. The exception to this is found with the ability for local governments to adopt a Universal Design Ordinance for a narrow range of additional residential types, specifically, single-family, duplex and triplex units, based on a Model Ordinance developed by the State. Staff proposes the City adopt such an ordinance, as described in more detail below. DISCUSSION Although it is not permissible to modify the PMC to impose more stringent accessibility requirements for covered projects, other options and opportunities are available to improve the accessibility of new residential housing and ensure it can provide suitable living arrangements for as wide a range of occupants as possible. In reviewing these various opportunities, it is important to recognize accessibility and disability covers a broad range of needs among individuals — for example, not every person with a disability is in a wheelchair, and a roll-in shower is not always the best or even a desirable feature in some units or for some occupants. It is important to provide some degree of flexibility and choice and focus on universal design principles that make units more livable for people of all abilities is recommended. AB 2787 — Model Universal Design Local Ordinance for single-family, duplex and triplex projects In 2002, the State adopted AB 2787, which authorized the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to develop guidelines and a model local jurisdiction ordinance for new for-sale residential construction that incorporates principles of universal design. HCD developed a Model Universal Design Ordinance, and local jurisdictions may adopt a local ordinance that is in substantial conformance and/or substantially similar to the Model Ordinance. The Model Ordinance may only be applied to single-family, duplex or triplex units (or some combination thereof), except custom built homes; in other words, it does not overlap with the scope of the CBC's accessibility requirements for private multi-family developments. The "substantially similar" requirement means that a locally adopted version would have to address a similar range of project types as listed in the Model Ordinance (i.e., buildings of three or fewer units) and could not expand it to encompass larger multi-family projects. Nonetheless, the Model Ordinance does provide some ability to expand the application of universal design to more projects. The Model Ordinance also offers the option to apply either a mandate to install universal design features by the developer (i.e., built in conjunction with a project), or as a mandate to offer these features to prospective owners to include in a new unit and installed at the purchaser's request. The range of features in the Model Ordinance includes widely accepted recommendations for universal design such as step-free entries, minimum doorway and passageway widths, bathtubs or showers consistent with established standards for accessibility, switches and receptacles at heights that don't require standing or bending, non-slip flooring, accessible appliances, single-handle faucets, pull-out shelves, closets with adjustable height rails, and accessible workspaces. Universal Design July 27, 2022 4 of 8