The City of San Jose authorized a temporary second-unit pilot program on November 29, 2005, allowing the issuance of 100 second-unit permits. The process, per state law, does not allow for flexibility with design criteria.; This project uses a property in the pilot program. The plot is located at 1164 Britton Avenue in San Jose, California. The project proposes three second-unit designs on the property with similar square footage. Design Variation A uses conventional construction methods and meets design criteria under City regulations; Design Variation B is the greenest unit allowed under the ordinance, using green building and passive solar design. Design Variation C is also energy efficient, using alternative roof features and materials.; The designs suggest that if the City allowed flexibility by permitting green building materials or different design standards, resource- and energy-friendly features could be incorporated and fewer natural resources would be required during construction.
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