Ithaca council hears hours of public testimony on ADU ordinance; moves measure to full council for May vote

Aldermen and dozens of residents filled the April 9 Committee of the Whole to hear a public hearing and debate on a staff-drafted accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance that would allow ADUs by right across most residential zones and does not include an owner‑occupancy requirement.

Supporters said ADUs would add housing supply and help homeowners cover rising property costs, while opponents urged carve‑outs to protect family neighborhoods from investor purchases and environmental harms.

The public hearing drew more than a dozen speakers in person and online. “I’m all for ADUs,” said Wendy Wallet of 209 Valley Road, who also warned that an unconstrained ADU rule could encourage corporate investors to buy single‑family homes and convert neighborhoods into rental districts. “The proposed ordinance before you, by allowing the development of ADUs without conditions, will turn our community into a playground for investors seeking to maximize profits,” she told the committee. Other residents from South Hill and Belle…