Get Your Ducks In A Row

So you're ready to head on down to City Hall to meet with a city planner and discuss your dreams of adding an ADU to San Jose's housing stock. But before you go, make sure to get your ducks in a row, meaning take action to become well-organized, prepared, and up-to-date on the City's ADU rules and regulations.

For the free ADU consultation, the City Planner isn't going to give you all day, the allotted time is 15 minutes. I'll say it again . . . 15 minutes. So you don't want to waddle into City Hall and quack nonsense. You need to come prepared with a plan of action.

Here's my action plan:

1. I'll bring my ADU Univeral Checklist filled out.

2. I'll bring my site plan.

3. I'll have a list of questions that will be asked in order of importance.

4. I'll arrive at City Hall as early as I can

5. I won't be in a rush and I'll stay calm

6. I'll treat the consultation as an educational experience

7. I'll thank the City Planner for their time.

And remember, if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. Don't be a duck, come prepared.