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Middle Housing
Thank you for joining us at the Middle Housing Community Forum!
Weren't able to join us for the meeting? Watch the recording on our City YouTube channel.
Middle Housing FAQs
Download a copy of our Middle Housing FAQs!
An update about HB1110:
As of April 26, House Bill 1110 regarding middle housing had passed the State legislature and was awaiting the Governor’s signature. It will require cities like Bothell to allow at least duplexes in a minimum of 75% of primarily residential zones, and up to fourplexes within a ¼ mile walking distance of frequent transit stops. Up to fourplexes must be authorized throughout all residential zones in the city beyond a ¼ mile walking distance from frequent transit if at least one unit is dedicated affordable housing. Staff and consultants are analyzing how these requirements compare to the Planning Commission’s recommendations, which generally expand upon the new State requirements.
Planning Commission Recommendation | New State Requirements | |
---|---|---|
Accessory Dwelling Units (2 per lot) | Citywide residential zones | Citywide residential zones |
1-2 Unit Dwellings | Citywide residential zones | Citywide residential zones |
3-4 Unit Dwellings | Citywide residential zones | 1/4 mile from transit, and Citywide if 1 is affordable |
Courtyard Apartments | Citywide residential zones | Citywide residential zones optional |
Cottage Housing | Citywide residential zones | Citywide residential zones optional |
Middle Housing Meetings + Events
City Council:
- Meetings regarding adoption of Middle Housing Code Amendments are expected in Summer 2023
For the most recent Council packets, please visit the Agenda Center.
Study Sessions are an opportunity for the public and elected officials to hear about the proposals. There is not dedicated time for public testimony.
Public Hearings have dedicated time for public testimony. City Council can take action on proposed legislation at a Public Hearing. City Council may choose to take action at the February 21 Public Hearing.
View the Proposed Code Amendments
View the proposed Middle Housing code amendments in the February 7 , 2023 City Council Packet.
Date | Event Type | Purpose of Engagement |
---|---|---|
7/18/23 | City Council | Public hearing (continued and only if needed) regarding the middle housing comprehensive plan amendments, code revisions based on legislative action |
7/11/23 | City Council | Public hearing regarding the middle housing comprehensive plan amendments, code revisions based on legislative action |
6/13/23 | City Council | Study session on middle housing comprehensive plan and code amendments, and potential code revisions per State legislation |
6/7/23 | Planning Commission | Final deliberations and recommendation on middle housing comprehensive plan amendments |
5/17/23 | Planning Commission | Public hearing regarding middle housing comprehensive plan amendments and code revisions |
5/4-5/18 | Online Survey | Middle housing community survey - Closed May 18, 2023 |
5/3/23 | Community Forum | Middle housing community forum at City Hall |
4/19/23 | Planning Commission | Study session (continued) regarding plan amendments and code revisions based on legislative action - this meeting is TBD |
4/13/23 | Walking Tour | 5pm-7pm; Tour through Lower Maywood neighborhood and listening session afterward |
4/5/23 | Planning Commission | Study session regarding the middle housing comprehensive plan amendments |
Want to be involved?
Stay informed:
Sign up for the Imagine Bothell...Notices that go out prior to each month with the anticipated meetings, public hearings, and events.
Participate via Planning Commission and City Council:
Planning Commission and Council meetings are available for viewing via the City's YouTube channel.
For recent agendas, minutes, and direct links to the YouTube recordings, visit the Agenda Center.
Provide feedback anytime:
Have some feedback or questions? Feel free to email imaginebothell@bothellwa.gov at your convenience.
Thank you for joining us at the Virtual Forum on May 31, 2022!
At this forum, we talked about ways the City is considering to add more housing, in more affordable forms, to single family zones. There was also an opportunity to give your input.
Known as “middle housing,” these are structures the same scale as single-family homes that have multiple units, providing housing types between single family homes and larger apartment complexes and tend to be priced between those housing types.
Weren't able to attend?
Please check out the link below for the recording of the zoom meeting. The recording does not include the breakout sessions.
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/m9vonKitDx-GxSLSz6CNGp68OL8W-E9KLcwU2Ak5__cBwrojvZX3V0er3p0vGuo.utww0U36zW1QwbPj?startTime=1654045375000
You'll need this passcode: TmuV5ng&
View the Middle Housing overview here!
This was the data surrounding the survey questions. It's also a great resource for what the City of Bothell is proposing in its Middle Housing conversation.
Check out the summarized survey results here:
Middle Housing Survey Summary with Pie Charts (PDF)
These questions were part of the initial Middle Housing survey conducted in May 2022. Each question shown in the summary came after an introduction of the topic as well as context for the proposed code amendments. Survey results have been summarized to capture the sentiment of the responses. There were a total of 263 responses to the survey.
Have questions, comments, or feedback?
Email imaginebothell@bothellwa.gov.
Duplexes Allowed on Corner Lots
One of the early changes to integrate more middle housing opportunities into our residential neighborhoods was a code update that allows duplexes to be built on all corner lots in residential neighborhoods. There are additional incentives when the original home is retained. See more about this in our code.
Middle Housing Walking Tours
Past Event Dates:
- December 18, 2021
September 16, 2022
January 31, 2023
February 11, 2023
March 18, 2023
April 13, 2023
Walking Tour Map
Download the Walking Tour Map!
Middle Housing FAQs
Download a copy of our Middle Housing FAQs!
Affordable Housing Week events: May 8 - 14, 2022
Tuesday, May 10 at 6:00 pm
The City Council presented a proclamation on the regional commitment to affordable housing. Stream the meeting on YouTube at your convenience.
Wednesday, May 11 at 12:00 pm
NUHSA (North Urban Human Services Alliance) celebrated the work North King County (NKC) cities are doing to create more options for affordable housing! This event provided a snapshot of the landscape in NKC, with brief presentations from city council members and staff from Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park and Shoreline. There was an opportunity for Q&A and information for becoming more involved in your city.
What is Middle Housing?
"Missing Middle Housing is a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units--compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes--located in a walkable neighborhood." - Opticos Design
In this diagram from Opticos, you can see that there are many different types of Middle Housing options both in size and building type. The City of Bothell is specifically discussing duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, cottage housing, and accessory dwelling units. Middle housing can be provided in a transitional zone between Single Family and Multi-family zones, or scattered throughout many traditional residential areas.
Housing-type definitions:
What do we mean when we say "house sized building" in single family zones? Structures that have the same height and setback regulations as single-family homes.
What is an ADU? Accessory dwelling units, sometimes referred to as “granny flats” or “mother-in-law apartments,” are relatively small dwelling units that are accessory to a primary allowed use, like a single family home. Currently, ADUs are only allowed with single-family homes except in the Downtown Subarea, where they could also be accessory to a multifamily unit, like a townhome. Detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) are sometimes referred to as “backyard cottages.”
What is a duplex? Structure with 2 independent dwelling units. These could be side by side, stacked, or front to back attached units.
What is a triplex? Structure with 3 independent dwelling units. These could be side by side, stacked, or front to back attached units.
What is a fourplex? Structure with 4 independent dwelling units. These could be side by side, stacked, or front to back attached units.
What is cottage housing? These tend to be smaller scale, detached single family units, built around a shared common courtyard or outdoor space.
What are townhomes? Side by side attached units that often have multiple stories and individual entrances.
Have questions or comments?
Send us an email at imaginebothell@bothellwa.gov.