The City Council’s Committee on the Built Environment (COBE) will hold a public hearing at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday November 16 to consider proposed new legislation amending the Land Use Code to implement lot shape and configuration standards when platting new lots, require new development standards for lots in single family zones that are less than 2,500 square feet in area, limit how lot coverage is calculated, and clarify existing standards for structures eligible for unit lot subdivisions.
The proposal would add lot shape and configuration standards to the code by amending subdivision, short subdivision, and lot boundary adjustment regulations. Newly created or newly adjusted lots would be required to meet specific standards commonly found in the land use regulations of many communities, including the following:
- Minimum street frontage of 10 feet for lots proposed with street frontage
- Minimum width of 10 feet for a distance of more than 10 feet as measured perpendicular to the width (to prevent very narrow “connections between portions of lots)
- Maximum of 6 lot lines
- Must provide alley access if original lot fronts on alley
- Standards may be waived or modified based on specific site conditions such as location of streets, structures, natural topographic features, etc.
- Short plats of lots with 2 existing houses are exempt
- Departure under Design Review is not allowed
The proposed development standards for single-family lots with less than 2,500 square feet in area would limit maximum base height of new structures to 22 feet (current standard is 25 feet), and would limit structure depth to two times the width of lot (no current structure depth standard is required, but depth is limited by yard standards).
The proposal would also limit lot coverage calculations on all single-family zoned lots to portions of lots that measure at least 10 feet in any direction. This proposed change would not affect minimum lot area calculation for purposes of compliance with minimum lot size or the exceptions to minimum lot size. A final minor change clarifies the types of residential structures eligible for unit lot subdivisions.
A copy of the legislation, Council Bill 117304, can be found on the City Clerk’s website www.seattle.gov/leg/clerk/.
A copy of the legislation can also be found on Councilmember Sally Clark’s website www.seattle.gov/council/clark/.
Questions regarding the proposal or requests for electronic copies may be directed to:
William Mills
(206) 684-8738
william.mills@seattle.gov