Councilmember O’Brien to Unveil Backyard Cottage Proposal

Councilmember Mike O’Brien

EVENT DATE

May 19, 2016

11 a.m.

Councilmember O’Brien to Unveil Backyard Cottage Proposal

Seattle – Councilmember Mike O’Brien will release a proposal to make it easier for more homeowners to build backyard cottages and mother-in-law units. Councilmembers recently held community meetings and received a report, “Removing Barriers to Backyard Cottages,” which helped shape the draft regulations being unveiled tomorrow.

Councilmember O’Brien (District 6, Northwest Seattle) will unveil the proposal outside of a backyard cottage in the Sunset Hill neighborhood.  An architect and backyard cottage owner will also provide remarks.

Backyard cottages, also called detached accessory dwelling units, are separate living spaces on the same property as an existing single-family house. Council adopted legislation in 2009 allowing construction of backyard cottages on eligible lots in single-family zones throughout the City.  Fewer than 200 have been constructed to date.  If only 5% of eligible lots in Seattle built a backyard cottage, it would result in over 4,000 housing units.

WHAT:  

Unveiling of a proposal to encourage Backyard Cottages and Mother-in-Law units

 WHEN:

Thursday, May 19

11 a.m.

WHERE:

3002 NW 72nd St (outside a backyard cottage)

Seattle, WA  98117

WHO:

Councilmember Mike O’Brien

Backyard Cottage owner

Backyard Cottage architect

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast live on Seattle Channel 21, HD Channels 321 Comcast, 721 Wave and on the City Council’s website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.