This afternoon, the City Council passed into law an ordinance loosening rules on Accessory Dwelling Units (aka ADUs), often referred to as “backyard cottages” and “mother-in-law apartments.”
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Council passes ADU legislation out of committee
This afternoon, the legislation loosening restrictions on “accessory dwelling units” or ADUs passed out of committee and will be up for final approval by the full Council on July 1. For background, read my post from earlier this week on the amendments being considered. Most of the amendments under consideration passed. Among the few that didn’t: Amendment 4, offered by Council member Herbold, would have prohibited newly-permitted ADUs from being used for short-term rentals through AirBnB and other companies. O’Brien and Pacheco opposed it, while Harrell supported it from “detached” ADUs only. Amendment 5, also by Herbold, which would have …
Continue readingCatching up on the backyard cottages legislation
Back in October, the city issued its final environmental impact statement (FEIS) on proposed legislation loosening rules on building “backyard cottages” in single-family zones in Seattle, as well as a Racial Equity Toolkit evaluation of the impact of the legislation on racial disparities in the city. To no one’s surprise, an appeal has been filed against the FEIS — but the city is fighting back.
Continue readingThe reports are in on proposed new rules on backyard cottages
Council member Mike O’Brien’s proposal to increase the number of mother-in-law apartments and “backyard cottages” has been on hold for over two years, since the Hearing Examiner ruled in late 2016 that a full Environmental Impact Statement was required. The final EIS was published last week, and once the inevitable appeals are dealt with that hurdle will have been crossed. But later this week, O’Brien’s office will hold a special meeting to discuss a Racial Equity Toolkit evaluation of the proposal that looked on how it will affect underserved communities at risk of displacement. Let’s look at what the final …
Continue readingNotes from Monday’s Council meetings
Short and sweet today.
Continue readingExpansion of backyard cottages gets kicked back for more work
This morning the city’s Office of the Hearing Examiner issued a long-awaited ruling on the Queen Anne Community Council’s appeal of a proposed ordinance relaxing the rules on “backyard cottages.” And it wasn’t good news for the city.
Continue readingNews roundup: AirBnB
Yesterday’s committee hearing on short-term rentals managed through services such as AirBnB are the big news this morning.
Continue readingBackyard cottages legislation on hold
Council member Mike O’Brien’s effort to ease rules on building backyard cottages (aka DADU’s) has run into a snag: a community group is filing an appeal with the City Hearing Examiner.
Continue readingNews roundup
Happy Monday. News coverage is fairly sparse this morning.
Continue readingNews roundup: Backyard cottages, slumlords, and bikes
Yesterday’s announcement by Council member O’Brien tops the news this morning.
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