Casita Model Plan Competition
Casita Model Plan Competition A call for design ideas from our community to make casitas easier to build in Tucson. Selected designs will be featured in a library of Casita Model Plans to offer a faster and more predictable design and permitting process. SUBMIT NOW: Casita Model Plan Competition Application SUBMIT NOW: Casita Model Plan Competition Application Here's How It Works Architects, engineers, designers, builders, contractors, design-build teams & students are invited to submit Casita design plans that fulfill the criteria and follow the requirements outlined in this guide by September 18, 2023. Any individual or firm can submit up to three designs.A selection committee will evaluate each design submission. This evaluation and the results of a public survey will determine the 10 selected designs that will each be awarded $1000 funded by AARP. Selected designs that submit for permitting as a model plan will have building review fees waived. Designers retain ownership of their plans.Pre-approved Casita Model Plans will be displayed in an online gallery with images, descriptions, and information about the designer.Homeowners can browse the gallery, choose a design, and connect with its designer to proceed with the necessary steps to purchase plans and permit the Casita on their site. In This Guide Benefits of pre-approved Casita model plansCasita Model Plan Competition selection process Casita CategoriesCasita Model Plan Competition scoring criteria and submission process How to select a pre-approved Casita Model PlanCompetition TimelineADU Resources Planning and Development Services and AIA Southern Arizona are hosting a drop-in feedback session. Participants interested in attending are encouraged to register to ensure adequate staff and light refreshments. What: Casita Model Plan Competition Design Feedback Session When: Thursday, September 7, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.Where: Sentinel Building, 320 N. Commerce Park Loop Who: Anyone with questions or seeking feedback on their designs prior to submitting them to the Casita Model Plan Competition Register: https://forms.office.com/g/CyLky8jCmv Casitas are just one way to add to Tucson's varied and flexible housing supply. Through recent regulatory changes, people are now able to build these lower-cost, space-efficient homes in our neighborhoods. Casitas give families more flexible options to meet their needs, helps homeowners build wealth, and increase affordable rental housing, especially near jobs, schools, transit, and parks in existing neighborhoods. Barriers still exist for some who may want to create a casita on their property. Mayor and Council have directed staff to develop programs to provide resources and technical support to make Casitas accessible and affordable to Tucson homeowners and residents. High construction costs and complex design and permitting processes may deter or prevent interested homeowners from creating a casita. By developing Pre-approved Casita Model Plans, the City can offer a faster, more predictable, and cheaper path for people to build a casita on their property. By encouraging relatively lower-cost designs, the City can help expand the number of households who can afford to do so. To build inventory in a new Casita Pre-approved Model Plan Library, the City invites architects, engineers, designers, builders, contractors, design-build teams & students to submit construction plans that reflect the various benefits of casitas in Tucson. Through this limited-time call for submissions, a select number of plans will be chosen to have the permit fees for review and approval of the model plan waived. All development in Tucson is subject to several codes and types of review. To become pre-approved, a Casita Model Plan will be reviewed by Planning and Development (PDSD) staff for compliance with the International Building Code, Unified Development Code, and green building and energy efficiency standards. Pre-approved Casita Model Plans will be displayed in an online gallery on the Casitas in Tucson website. Other design submissions and designers not selected for waived pre-approval fees may also be displayed online. When homeowners choose a pre-approved Casita Model Plan, they will benefit from a streamlined permitting process and reduced permit fees. Members of the public can browse the gallery, choose a design, and connect with the designer who can confirm fees and next steps to prepare a site plan necessary to get a construction permit. PDSD staff will then check that the proposed plan matches the model plan on file, and review site-specific factors for the property, including compliance with zoning standards, foundation and utility design, and drainage. Submissions will be accepted from August 3, 2023 - September 18, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Architects, engineers, designers, builders, contractors, design-build teams & students are eligible to enter our ADU Design Competition by submitting: To reduce any influence of association design names, narratives, and schematics (all images and PDF documents) should NOT have identifying information such as your name, design firm, or logo. Submissions that include materials with identifying information will be returned to be resubmitted or have the identifying information blocked out. If selected to become pre-approved, a Casita Model Plan will be reviewed by PDSD staff for compliance with the International Building Code, Unified Development Code, and green building and energy efficiency standards. Be sure to review the City of Tucson ADU Codes to ensure that designs are in compliance. Submissions are due Monday, September 18, 2023, by 11:59 p.m. and must meet the submission requirements described in this document. PDSD staff will review submissions for completeness as they come in. If an application or design is submitted that is ineligible due to missing components, it will be returned for an opportunity to revise prior to the submission deadline. A committee will evaluate submitted plans using the design guidelines detailed on this site. The selection committee will review designs to ensure they collectively achieve various benefits of casitas in Tucson, including architectural variety and feasibility for a wide range of sites, conditions, and households. A public online survey will be held from October 1-22, 2023; that score will also factor into determining winners. Selected designs will be awarded $1000 funded by AARP. Any one individual or firm is eligible for up to three (3) winning submissions. Winners will be announced in early November 2023. Selected plans are eligible for waived permit fees for the approval of the model plan by PDSD staff. Pre-approved Casita Model Plans will be displayed in an online gallery on the Casitas in Tucson website, with images of the Casita, a description of the design, and information about the designer. Other design submissions and designers not selected for waived pre-approval fees may also be displayed online. Casitas can help a wide range of households meet their needs, so an ideal library of pre-approved plans will serve a variety of living arrangements and household sizes, including individuals, multi-generational households, people living with disabilities, caregiver housing, older adults seeking to downsize or age in place, and families saving money to buy a home in the future. Our Casita Library will be broken up into categories. Submissions should identify which category or categories they fulfill. Universal Design / Accessible Casitas Designs that easily meet accessibility requirements. While accessibility depends on site conditions, which vary for each lot, submissions that are single-story and designed with accessibility in mind can meet the needs of many residents. We also encourage plans that are fully accessible or include universal design features. Low-Cost/Innovative Casitas Designs that can be developed for low construction cost. While cost-saving measures are encouraged in all submissions, this category specifically offers a substantially lower price point than conventional designs through innovative methods, including pre-fabrication of some elements or designs that allow homeowners to complete some work themselves. Plans, manufacturing and installation of factory-built ADUs are reviewed and approved by the Arizona Department of Housing, not the City of Tucson Building Safety Division. ADUs that are under the purview of the State of Arizona are welcome to enter into the competition and may be included in our online library of ADUs. However, if the model plan is selected as a winner, the plan review fees cannot be waived because they are levied by the State of Arizona Department of Housing and not the City of Tucson. Family-Friendly Casitas Designs with at least two bedrooms. Larger households and families with children may need multiple bedrooms to meet their needs. Large lots with ample yard space may accommodate larger Casitas, which can work for many families or offer more potential rent. Green or Net Zero Casitas Designs that include green elements or result in net zero emissions. While smaller homes and infill have some degree of sustainability built in, these designs incorporate elements such as: sustainable materials, passive climate control, reduced waste, on-site energy generation and storage, and simple rain harvesting systems. These energy-efficient and resource-harvesting considerations result in long-term cost savings in utility bills. At the close of the submission window, the selection committee will review casita design submissions. The design guidelines have been determined based on public feedback in surveys and meetings about benefits that ADUs provide to Tucson communities. While every submission may not maximize each element, designs should thoughtfully balance the guidelines with an overall goal of increasing access to and production of casitas. Accessibility and Universal Design Pre-approved Casita Model Plans should provide designs that meet accessibility requirements and support aging in place and those with physical disabilities. While accessibility depends partly on site conditions, which vary for each lot, designs should support different types of users. This could be achieved by including ramped entryways as well as clearances and devices throughout for wheelchair users or a multitude of universal design features. Innovative Construction / Design Pre-approved Casita Model Plans should make building an ADU possible for more Tucson residents, particularly households otherwise unable to afford it. This could be achieved through innovative construction methods such as prefabricated elements, DIY building ability, cost-effective design choices, and material selection. Designs that can be constructed quickly, simply, and with readily available materials will help homeowners to anticipate construction costs and time better. Aesthetics and Contextual Integration A program goal is to offer pre-approved plans that are broadly feasible and appealing on many residential lots throughout Tucson. This includes lots with and without alley access; corner and midblock lots; narrow and wide lots; lots with environmentally critical areas and trees; and lots with ample and limited available lot coverage. We also aim to choose plans that are compatible with a range of architectural styles found in Tucson. Design should also consider compatibility with common architectural contexts and development patterns in Tucson’s low-density residential neighborhoods. This includes privacy mitigation and the potential relationships of the casita to the main house and to neighboring lots through design, configuration, profile, and window placement. Sustainability, Energy, and Water Efficiency Submissions should consider designs incorporating green building and features related to energy and water such as: passive heating and cooling, sustainable building materials, retention of existing trees, planting of new trees, or stormwater management and greywater readiness. City permitting staff will do an initial feasibility check of semifinalist designs against a scorecard to help finalize winning designs in each category. If their design is selected for the model plan library, a designer may choose to submit complete building plans for pre-approval. If a winning designer chooses to submit building plans, plan review fees will be waived, and the Casita Model Plan will be reviewed by PDSD staff for compliance with the International Building Code, Unified Development Code, and green building and energy efficiency standards. City of Tucson ADU Code Amendment All About Accessory Dwelling Units (AARP) Intro to ADUs video(AARP) Age-Friendly Features videos (Better Living Design Institute) Examples of pre-approved model plans from other cities: City of Eugene, Oregon - Pre-approved ADU Plans Program City of Seattle, Washington - Pre-approved DADUs (ADUniverse) San Diego County, California - County Standard ADU Building Plans City of Los Angeles, California – Pre-approved Standard Plans Visit the Casita Model Plan Competition FAQ page for a list of the frequently asked questions related to the competition, that is updated as questions come up. Planning and Development Services201 N. Stone Ave.Tucson, Arizona 85701520-791-5550tucsonaz.gov/pdsd