HAYWARD — New state law changes that will allow more property owners to build granny or in-law units is getting push-back from some City Council members who fear lifting restrictions will make traffic and parking worse in some neighborhoods.

The changes, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in September, invalidated the city’s previous building and zoning restrictions on what planners call accessory dwelling units, but are commonly referred to as granny or in-law units. They are living spaces built on the same property as houses, with permanent sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation areas.

Hayward must consider relaxed regulations “in an effort to address some of the housing crisis that we’re facing in this region,” city planning manager Sara Buizer told the City Council at its March 14 meeting.

Parking, for instance, cannot be required for granny units under certain instances, such as when one is located half a mile or less from public transit, or is being added to an existing owner-occupied house.

The new state law also requires that the city approve granny-unit building permit applications within 120 days if they meet basic safety, zoning and building code standards.

“We really have a lot of limitations on what we can and cannot regulate and how we can regulate it,” Buizer said.

However, some council members say easing restrictions comes with a price.

“I think we’re all committed to more housing options and building more affordable housing … but I think this is going to change the way our neighborhoods look,” Councilman Mark Salinas said.

The city’s proposed regulations would allow three dwelling types — internal, attached and detached units — to be built in single-family or multi-family zoned neighborhoods on properties with an existing house.

Freestanding granny units were not permitted in Hayward until the new state law took effect in January, Buizer said.

Homeowners would not have to provide parking for one-bedroom or studio granny units under the city’s proposed guidelines. Those with two bedrooms, however, would be required to have two parking spaces.

In cases where garages are converted to an accessory dwelling unit, proposed regulations would allow homeowners to replace that parking space by expanding their paved driveways.

“We don’t want to overburden our streets with the required parking, so we want the lot itself to accommodate the required parking,” Buizer said.

Attached or detached units must be either no larger than 1,200 square feet or half of the main house, and be set back at least 5 feet from the side and rear property lines.

Bill Mulgrew, executive director of Rental Housing Association of Southern Alameda County, said his group supports the proposed regulation changes but recommends allowing more than one granny unit on larger lots.

“Certainly the most dependable mitigator of our housing crisis is an increase in the housing supply available to our residents, and anything we can do to avail ourselves of additional housing is a good thing within the bounds of reasonableness,” he said.

However, some council members expressed concern about the effect on neighborhoods.

“Essentially what we’re doing is converting single-family developments into multi-family developments” without consideration for the neighbors, Councilman Marvin Peixoto said at the meeting.

“It’s good that we deal with affordable housing in the various ways that we can, but these people have rights, too. I feel so sorry for some of these older people in their 80s who spent their whole lives there and have nowhere to go; they’re basically captive in their own home,” he said.

A state provision allowing granny units to be built on top of garages is concerning, since Hayward is in an earthquake-prone area, Councilwoman Sara Lamnin said.

Councilman Al Mendall said building granny units in some city neighborhoods would not make sense and could exacerbate parking shortages.

“There are neighborhoods in Hayward, where the law as it exists is probably fine, with mine being a good example. There’s lots of parking in the street, there’s two-car garages, two cars in the driveway and they’re big homes, but if you add another car, it would be OK,” Mendall said.

“But in neighborhoods where parking is impacted and it is crowded already, to say that the city has no ability to restrict really burns me,” he said.

Councilman Francisco Zermeno agreed.

“I see this as us creating car overkill,” he said.

“The ideas can be good in certain areas, but not blanket coverage, and that’s where your task is going to be difficult to say, ‘Sorry, in these areas you cannot build,’ ” he said.

Hayward’s proposed granny unit laws will be vetted at public meetings before being brought back to the city Planning Commission and City Council in June or July for final review. The laws also must be approved by the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

Contact Darin Moriki at 510-293-2480 or follow him at Twitter.com/darinmoriki.