UPDATED: Shoreline Planning Commission: Cottage Housing Public Outreach

UPDATE: Meeting Cancelled:

The Planning Commission meeting tonight (11/17) to discuss cottage housing has been cancelled. They did not have a quorum (a majority of commission members) able to attend tonight’s meeting. The cottage housing agenda item is now on the December 1, 2022 Planning Commission meeting agenda. A revised packet will be published online, the staff report about cottage housing is staying the same.

By Pam Cross

The Shoreline Planning Commission will hear public outreach regarding Cottage Housing at their Thursday December 1, 2022 meeting. The meeting will take place in Council Chambers at Shoreline City Hall from 7:00pm to 9:59pm.

All residents are encouraged to attend the meeting. Planning Commission meetings are now hybrid. This means you can attend in person at City Hall, view live, or listen over the telephone.

The link for the December meeting: https://www.shorelinewa.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/16838/171

The City’s consultant, Blueline, has prepared a public outreach summary report which includes feedback from the online survey, the focus groups, and the open house.

A detailed staff report has been prepared for the meeting. City staff will ask Planning Commission for initial guidance on the cottage code including the type of review process and what development standards the code should focus on. After the meeting, draft code writing will begin.

Cottages are a residential form of development, so residential zones appear to be the most appropriate place to permit this kind of development. Public feedback largely indicated this type of housing should be designed thoughtfully.

Cottages are aimed at people who are “middle” income. They are some of the most affordable housing types on a cost-per-square-foot basis. In general, these housing types are more affordable than traditional single-family homes and provide a wider range of design and locational choices than apartment buildings. 

Middle housing has the potential to add compatible density into established neighborhoods and can grant more households an opportunity to build wealth through homeownership.

One of the most frequent complaints heard at Council Meetings is the lack of information provided to the residents in advance of changes to city codes. This is your opportunity to follow these developments and provide your input as the discussions continue.