The City of Seattle is considering making backyard cottages, otherwise known as detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs), legal across the city. In an effort to get the word out and gather neighborhood feedback, the Department of Planning has been sending a representative to various district council meetings to answer questions about the proposed package of code amendments. The last presentation, one of the highest attended to date, was held Monday evening at the Lake Union District Council Meeting.
Of the nearly 40 attendees at the meeting, there were roughly five or six who were ardent opponents of the backyard cottage proposal—discovered after an informal straw poll was taken. The opponents' issues essentially revolve around misconceptions of allowed densities, required parking provisions and current residential development standards. They were concerned backyard cottages would increase the number of people in their single-famly neighborhoods, crowd the streets with parked cars and block solar access to their garden patches.
Regardless of where you stand on this issue, it's important to clear up misconceptions and understand what's actually being put before council next week. Here's a quick breakdown of what's allowed under current residential zoning provisions versus what's being proposed with the backyard cottage code amendments.
Density
Current Situation: Every primary dwelling in Seattle is allowed to have an attached accessory dwelling unit and every residential lot is limited to eight unrelated persons (residents).
Proposed Situation: Every primary dwelling in Seattle will be allowed to have an attached or detached accessory dwelling unit and every residential lot will be limited to eight unrelated persons (residents).
Change: The currently allowed accessory dwelling unit can be attached or detached—absolutely no change in allowed density.
Parking
Current Situation: Every attached accessory dwelling unit is required to have one off-street parking space. This is inaddition to the parking spaces required for the primary dwelling.
Proposed Situation: Every attached or detached accessory dwelling unit will be required to have one off-street parking space. This is inaddition to the parking spaces required for the primary dwelling.
Change: The proposed package of code amendments will not change anything in regards to parking requirements for accessory dwelling units.
Residential Development Standards
Current Situation: Lot coverage in single-family residential zones is limited to 35 percent, including attached accessory dwelling units and detached accessory structures, which are restricted to 1000 square feet in size.
Proposed Situation: Lot coverage in single-family residential zones will be limited to 35 percent, including attached and detached accessory dwelling units, which will be restricted to 800 square feet in size (200 less square feet than is currently allowed for detached accessory structures).
Change: Lot coverage remains the same and the allowable square footage of a detached accessory structure gets reduced by 200 feet if it is to accommodate an accessory dwelling unit.
So what is changing with the backyard cottage code amendments? Seattle residents will simply be granted more flexibility in where they accommodate an accessory dwelling unit.
To dig a little deeper into the actual proposal, click here.
