The Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee held a special meeting on Wednesday to gather feedback on the backyard cottage amendments. Since 2006, backyard cottages have been a permitted use in southeast Seattle. Now on the drawing board is a proposal to make backyard cottages legal across the city.
Following a presentation of the proposal, council members raised questions regarding how the 23-foot maximum height limit is calculated. Department of Planning and Development (DPD) staff explained the maximum cottage height of 23 feet is only permitted when the corresponding lot width is more than 40 feet. In all cases, the maximum height of the exterior wall will be limited to 16 feet. Both of these provisions are intended to address concerns with massing and scale. There was also discussion of how pre-existing non-compliant cottages will be handled following adoption of these amendments. DPD staff explained that most will be given amnesty provided they bring the cottages into compliance with development standards within a specified timeframe. DPD staff also noted pre-existing cottages will not be counted toward the annual 50-unit cap.
The remainder of the meeting was focused on cottage design. The council members, having gone on a number of cottage tours recently, said they saw exemplary cottages that blended in with the surrounding neighborhood and others that were essentially eyesores. "It's very, very hard to legislate good design and good judgment or good tatse," said Council member Tom Rasmussen. DPD staff indicated they understood the committee's concerns and had been working with the Planning Commission to prepare a design guide that would help ensure cottages are compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and respect the privacy of adjoining neighbors.
The committee is scheduled to reconvene on this matter Sept. 9, when the topics of discussion will center around the annual 50-unit cap, the 800 square foot floor area limit and geographic dispersion criteria—a legally challenging provision due to issues of equity. To provide feedback on the backyard cottage amendments, attend the first scheduled public hearing before City Council's Planning, Land Use and Neighborhood Committee being held Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. in Seattle City Hall's Council Chamber located at 600 Fourth Ave. The full council is expected to render a decision on Sept. 23.
