Lake Stevens plans workshop to discuss cottage housing developments

Published 11:05 pm Sunday, September 21, 2008

LAKE STEVENS — Cottage housing developments — where small, single-family homes are clustered together — is not addressed by city law.

That’s why city officials want to hear residents’ opinions about cottage housing. The city is planning a community workshop for Oct. 1.

Some people around Snohomish County have opposed cottage housing, contending that it’s like bringing apartments or condominiums into single-family neighborhoods.

Lake Stevens has created a draft ordinance regulating the housing type, in which each development would be limited to between four and 12 units with detached garages, planning director Becky Ableman said.

While units would be between 600 to 1,100 square feet apiece, each would have a front porch and open space around the outside, she said.

“It’s more of a friendly type community,” Ableman said. “It’s a way to own your own space, your own home.”

Currently there are no developments in Lake Stevens that fit this description, Ableman said.

“We’ve got some developments that have called themselves cottage,” but are not clustered, she said.

The city has been approached by developers who would like to build cottage housing. Officials have already met with interested parties, including builders, the fire department and the sewer district.

More meetings are tentatively planned for later in the fall. The city is considering passing an ordinance in early 2009.

Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.