Accessory dwelling symposium planned in Montclair

Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place, the A.L.I.C.E Project of United Way and the Montclair Housing Commission are hosting a symposium to discuss accessory dwelling units for our community.

It will take place virtually on May 20, from 12:30 to 5 p.m.

Speakers include: Eli Spevak, planning and sustainability commissioner for Portland, Oregon and author of AARP’s "ABCs of ADUs;" Zoe Baldwin, New Jersey director for the Regional Plan Association; Laszlo Kiss, New Jersey architect; Montclair Councilman Peter Yacobellis; Robin Seidon, Realtor and founder of West of Hudson Real Estate Company; Montclair Township Planner Janice Talley; and Marina Rubina, Princeton architect and ADU designer.

A revised ADU ordinance is pending with the Township of Montclair, and three ADU bills have been introduced before the New Jersey State Legislature.

More than 1.4 million Americans have added ADU’s to their single-family homes, organizers said in an announcement of the event. They provide new income streams to homeowners, improve property values, provide independent housing for extended families, add to local housing stocks with low cost to a municipality, maintain the character of neighborhoods, support aging in place and are environementally positive, the organizers said.

Participants can register at schedulesplus/mtcgateway/kiosk, where they can enter their phone numbers and proceed to the calendar to register.

For more information, visit montclairgateway.org.