Cottage Life

To its proponents, cottage housing is the answer for people who want homes in communities like Mukilteo, Washington but don’t want or can’t afford large single-family homes.

Opponents, on the other hand, see cottage housing as nothing more than detached apartments, lowering property values, increasing traffic and bringing other woes.

On the recommendation of the Planning Commission, the City Council will revisit Mukilteo’s Cottage Housing Development Code at its June 12 meeting.

Typically, cottage homes are around 1,200 square feet. Garages are grouped away from the homes, which share a common open space.

According to developers, in communities where cottage housing already exists, the demographics show they attract retired, empty-nest couples and single people, particularly single women.

Commissioners made their recommendation that the council take a fresh looking at the city’s cottage housing code following a spirited discussion on May 18.

Some residents living near Mukilteo’s first cottage housing project on 44th Avenue West, south of 84th Street SW, said they were unhappy with what they’re seeing and wanted to put the brakes on a second proposed cottage housing project in their neighborhood.

“I’m looking over my shoulder and asking, ‘What’s happening to my community?’” asked resident Ray McCann.

“They say it’s aimed at retired people, but (noting the homes are two-story) retired people don’t want to go up stairs.

“So it’s really a zoning change, permitting multiple dwellings in a single family neighborhood.

“We’re all going to take a hit on our property values.”

Old Town resident Linda Wooding also expressed concerns.

“Cottage housing is high density housing,” Wooding said.

“I don’t hear Mukilteo residents yammering for cottage housing. I hear developers.”

But Stewart Woods, vice president of the development firm Cascade Cottages Inc, said he was surprised by the negative reaction.

“I hear a lot of fear,” he said.

Woods said he grew up in Old Town where most homes were small like cottage homes, and he played in the forest where complaining residents live now.

“I got interested in this because my mother wanted to stay in Mukilteo but can no longer maintain her house,” he said.

“What we’re creating is a community like Old Town was, where everybody knew everybody. In fact, we styled them after Old Town.”

Woods said his mother can’t afford a typical single family house in Mukilteo, but she wants to stay.

He said cottage housing projects typically take up a smaller footprint than 3,000- and 4,000-square-foot homes, and that they’re governed by stricter regulations, such as architectural reviews, covenants, and maintenance fees for common areas.

“We’re trying to create something to keep people in the community,” Woods said.

Commissioner Tom McGrath worked on the current code.

“The first time, we really struggled with it,” McGrath said.

He said people are wrong assuming cottage housing is cheap housing.

“They’re not cheap. My wife and I were talking about it being a good idea. Then, when I heard the price, I said, ‘Oh no,’” he said.

Planning Director Heather McCartney said the city could learn from other cities’ experience. Redmond reportedly has a successful cottage housing program, while Shoreline dropped its program after problems developed.

Commissioners recommended the council visit such questions as density, number of permitted units, traffic and other area impacts, and experiences in other communities.

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