The Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) released its biweekly land use information bulletin Thursday. The following list provides the highlights. For more detailed information, click here.
Written Comments Being Accepted for Backyard Cottage Legislation
The city council has tentatively scheduled a full vote on Nov. 2 for a proposal to allow backyard cottages citywide. Written comments from the public may be submitted anytime prior to the council's vote on the legislation. Comments submitted via mail should be addressed to Committee Chair Sally Clark, Planning Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee, P.O. Box 34025, Seattle, WA, 98124, or via email to sally.clark@seattle.gov. (For more information about the backyard cottage legislation, check out Northwest Hub's coverage here and here).
The Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee voted to approve the proposed backyard cottage legislation (Council Bill 116528) at its special meeting on Oct. 8 with the following amendments:
- Require DPD to fulfill additional reporting requirements related to its issuance of backyard cottage permits;
- Eliminate the proposed 50 unit cap on the number of backyard cottage permits that could be issued citywide per year;
- Create a short grace period that allows owners of existing, illegal backyard cottages to obtain permits and avoid penalty fees if they bring their structures into compliance with safety and housing standards;
- Reduce the maximum permitted height of a backyard cottage from 23 feet to 22 feet unless the lot on which the cottage is located is at least 50 feet wide or served by a rear alley;
- Limit the height of all backyard cottages to 15 feet above the roof peak of the principal house;
- Waive the parking requirement for accessory dwelling units that are located in an Urban Center or Urban Village;
- Clarify existing language in the legislation related to covenant recording, the conversion of existing accessory structures into legal backyard cottages, and the definition of “below grade” area.
