New microhousing rules: Tell City Councilmembers what you think on Monday

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If you feel strongly about microhousing – the new wave of mini-apartments that cluster around shared kitchens, usually one per floor – Monday’s your chance to speak to the City Council’s Planning/Land Use/Sustainability Committee about the proposed new city rules/definitions. The meeting agenda circulated today reminds us of the date, which, as reported here, was first announced last month. Here again is the council memo about the proposal; here’s the agenda. The public hearing is at 5:30 pm Monday (May 19th) in council chambers at City Hall downtown. (WSB photo: First West Seattle microhousing project to open, Footprint Delridge)

Mr. Snarly May 15, 2014 (8:26 pm)

Boo!

Mel May 15, 2014 (9:05 pm)

They should call these what they are: rooming houses.

mike May 16, 2014 (12:59 am)

I have no problem with shared spaces, that is how many people perfer or/and can aford to live, but one parking space per resident should be provided as to not over burden the neighborhood.

WestofJunction May 16, 2014 (6:50 am)

That’s overpriced rooming houses – hard to manage and hard on the neighbors. Are these accessible for disabled people? Or have we tossed that requirement over in favor of the developers?

Ex-Westwood Resident May 16, 2014 (7:03 am)

Mike,
Agreed.
But I would go further and have the lease/rental agreement to include a statement that car ownership is not allowed and only ONE resident per room
I would further stipulate that these type of units are ONLY allowed in “High Density” zoned areas AND within 500′ of major transit hubs.

patt May 16, 2014 (10:08 am)

So, these sound like units where complete strangers share kitchens?

In college after weeks of interviews the 6 of us in the house would pick a new room mate.

Even with all that, the shared kitchen was ALWAYS the biggest bone of contention and house meetings.

Will personal mini refrigerators and microwaves be allowed in rooms? Who regulates who moves in?

Who deals with conflict resolution? In house or police?

A conflicted apt building is a conflicted neighborhood.

NotOnHolden May 16, 2014 (11:21 am)

Totally random but I realized that the guy that used to rent my current place now lives here, he is considered disabled and he has a vehicle.

It is not up to us to stipulate that car ownership is not allowed. It is not up to us to stipulate that a room that could easily support 2 adults should only have one.

Why should the tenants have to live a certain way because the developer didn’t do what was needed to build in the neighborhood without having a negative impact?

sophista-tiki May 16, 2014 (11:40 am)

Rats living on top of each other, wont be long before they self distruct. The car/ parking issue clearly favors developers who don’t have to put out the dough to build parking. Its rediculous to assume people moving into a micro unit will not have a car, and /or lie about having one. Can you say Kawloon boys and girls.

CeeBee May 16, 2014 (12:36 pm)

If you have an opinion, please show up or send your comments in by email! All opinions need to get to the ears of the people who are making the decisions, time to participate for sure!!!!!!!

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