Planning Department Links

image: right facing arrow Planning and Building Department Home

image: right facing arrow Lake Forest Park Comprehensive Plan

image: right facing arrow Comprehensive Plan Revision Process

image: right facing arrow Shoreline Master Program

image: right facing arrow Information Bulletins

image: right facing arrow Find a Form

image: right facing arrow Planning Commission

Community Issues

Cottage Housing Demonstration Project

City Council Tables Cottage Housing Ordinance

In December of 2005, the City Council adopted the City Comprehensive Plan Update which included the following policy:

Pol LU 4.3 Cottage housing is a land use mechanism that may provide opportunities for small, detached dwelling units within existing neighborhoods and increase the variety of housing types available for smaller households. Cottage housing developments support the growth management goal of more efficient use of urban residential land. Establish land development regulations that provide for cottage style housing while balancing the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. Such regulations should consider the following provisions:
  • Development compatible with existing neighborhoods with less overall bulk and scale than standard sized single-family detached dwellings;
  • Opportunities for creative, diverse, and high quality infill development; Flexibility of site and building design if performance standards are met which give equal or better design and protection than the zone;
  • Addressing characteristics including, but not limited to, building size and height, setbacks, landscaping, common open spaces, parking areas, detached homes and common amenities, such as garden plots, storage areas, play areas and/orchards;
  • Opportunities for the public to obtain information and provide comment about any proposed cottage housing development.

The proposed Cottage Housing Demonstration Project Ordinance is the culmination of more than a year‘s worth of meetings and work by the Planning Commission to carry out the policy above. The Commission believes that cottage housing increases diversity of housing options in a manner that is compatible with the surrounding single family areas. As residents age or become empty nesters they may want to stay in Lake Forest Park but not want to maintain a large house on a large lot. Cottage housing gives such residents a viable alternative.

The Commission visited cottage housing developments in other cities and brought in planning staff from other jurisdictions in order to prepare a recommendation for regulating cottage housing that is the right fit. The Commission came to the conclusion that a demonstration project ordinance is most appropriate mechanism for Lake Forest Park since it does not allow create a perpetual approval process. If this interim ordinance is adopted, it will be in affect for one year and thereafter may be renewed for one or more six-month periods. If a renewal is considered, a public hearing will be required. In other words, a demonstration ordinance allows the City to try cottage housing on a limited basis.

Cottage Housing Demonstration Project Ordinance Background and Summary
More background information and summary of the ordinance, project parameters including selection process.
Cottage housing demonstration project ordinance
Text of ordinance establishing cottage housing demonstration project. (March 5, 2005.)

QUESTIONS?

Click to submit a question to the
Lake Forest Park Planning and Building Department .