Jason Webster of Huntington Homes outlines costs and limits of universal design in single‑family houses

Jason Webster of Huntington Homes told the General & Housing Committee on April 22 that Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements are specific, typically apply to certain project types, and "aren't triggered by default on single‑family homes." He distinguished ADA compliance from adaptability and visitability standards and from the broader concept of universal design, which he called a concept rather than a code.

Webster said some universal‑design elements can be incorporated at little or no cost depending on the base design. "A 36‑in wide door versus a more standard 32‑in wide door, cost‑wise, they're nearly identical," he said, but he added that repeatedly specifying wider doors can consume floor plan space and force adjustments to closets or hallways.

He described construction trade‑offs that often determine price more than the fixtures themselves. Making a wood‑framed floor flush with a garage slab (to allow zero‑step entries) requires different sequencing between concrete and framing contractors and sometimes additional excavation or multiple concrete pours. "That will affect price," he said, noting concrete and sequencing—not framing labor—tend to drive added costs.

On bathrooms, Webster said no‑sill showers may add cost depending on what was originally planned: if a custom tiled shower was already specified, converting it to a no‑sill design costs little extra; replacing a modest one‑piece acrylic stall with a no‑sill unit can add several thousand dollars. For vanities, he said builders commonly "set up future plumbing to come out of the back of the walls" so a roll‑under vanity can be installed later with minimal retrofit cost.

Webster also described what is typically low‑cost and typically standard now — comfort‑height toilets and modest adjustments to outlet heights — and cautioned that accessible kitchens are easier in custom builds, while stock cabinet lines tend to center on standard 36‑inch countertop heights and offer fewer accessible options.

The committee thanked Webster for a recent site tour of Huntington Homes; members said seeing built examples clarified trade‑offs and prompted follow‑up questions for staff. The committee did not take formal action on policy language during the meeting.

Why it matters: Municipal officials drafting ordinances or guidance that reference "universal design" should consider citing specific, codified standards (for example, visitability or adaptability specifications) to reduce disagreement about interpretation and to make compliance easier to verify. Webster recommended code‑based references where a definitional document exists.