Julia’s Backyard Quest for Accessible Housing

ADUs or Accessory Dwelling Units have been legalized on paper in Bloomington, Illinois since 2022. However, many conflicting clauses in the zoning code and use table effectively disallows them from being built.

Julia Sutherland has been a resident of central Bloomington for more than a decade and has decided to turn her garage artist’s studio into an ADU for her aging mother. Only one thing stands in her way: the city zoning code.

Strong Towns Blono has been a vocal advocate for sensible missing middle housing like ADUs and now is our chance to make it happen for real! The Bloomington City Council will be deliberating about this and other missing middle housing changes on its September 8th meeting.

CALL TO ACTION!

9/8/25 City Council Meeting Public Comment

Please either email your city council member (or even better, come join us in public comment) and urge them to vote YES for agenda items 8B, 8C, and 8D on issues regarding housing in our community.

• Agenda Item 8B: updates the zoning code use tables to make ADUs (see video above) more attainable for homeowners by making them a “special use,” which would require a permit. Safeguards will be kept in place to ensure these don’t “disturb” neighbors, like requiring owner-occupancy.
• Agenda Item 8C: updates the zoning code to allow more people to buy and OWN duplexes and rowhomes, as opposed to the current reality where most of these can only be rentals if built new.
• Agenda Item 8D: a resolution directing staff to review zoning code for alignment with future housing needs in targeted areas through overlay districts for “Missing Middle Housing” in walkable neighborhoods.

More information on the Agenda with Editorial comments from Kelby Cumpston, can be found HERE.

If available, please email your city council member, and even show up for public comment at 6pm at the Government Center. Here is the LINK to do so. Location: 4th Floor of the Government Center