Neighborhood Residential is the zoning definition update for the areas of our city which used to be limited to just single family detached homes that is more reflective of other types of homes that have existed in the neighborhoods before the zoning became more restrictive and exclusionary. It currently covers the vast majority of Seattle, though through the designation of about 30 new neighborhood centers, is a smaller proportion than before. Now that it is inclusionary of middle housing types…what can we have? 

By right –or, automatically– we’re able to build different types of infill housing like triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, cottages and the like to be permitted citywide and with family-sized units. Through bonuses, we’re able to do so much more. With the stacked flats bonus, if units are more like apartments, we’re able to have up to 9 units on a typical 5000 square foot lot. If a developer is able to retain certain types of trees or otherwise green the property through planting trees, rain gardens and more, or is building Affordable or Social Housing? We can go even further: four floors and up to 12 typical 1 bedrooms (500sf)  in a green stacked flat or up to 15 affordable studios. Again, this is based on a 5000sf lot, so will vary by lot sizes and unit size mix if there is  more family sized housing. 

Additional goodies include: four floors if within a ¼ mile of a school and ¼ of units family sized (3+ bed), removing parking mandates near transit, and allowing neighborhood small shops and restaurants for delightful walkable neighborhoods with corner stores and cafes, citywide!