The Seattle City Council's proposed "Megahouse Legislation" will be debated in a public hearing on Sept. 22 and could take effect as early as November of this year.
In response to community outcry against new, massive homes that tower over their neighbors, the bill was introduced on July 28. It would modify the land use and zoning standards of single family neighborhoods for the first time since 1982.
"The building design profession has dramatically changed since then," said Richard Conlin, Seattle City Council president. "It was necessary to take another look."
Seattle City Council member Sally Clark, who chairs the Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee, explained that as development in Seattle has been proven profitable, there is a perception that Seattleites today are looking for larger homes.
Conlin originally proposed the legislation in an effort to preserve the character of Seattle's neighborhoods. The city hopes to balance the needs of growing families while ensuring that new homes contribute positively to their neighborhood.
One of the common complaints the Council hears about these homes objects to the lack of green space left on the lots after large homes are built. Seattle City Council member Tom Rasmussen expressed concern for the loss of trees and diminished yard space around the homes.
The new bill would limit properties' hardscape surfaces including driveways, walkways, decks or patios to help maintain open space and preserve vegetation.
A new formula has also been proposed to determine lot coverage allowance. If a lot is smaller than 5,000 square feet than the size of the home would be limited to 1,000 square feet plus 15 percent of the total lot area.
Neighbors to these large homes claim that the structures block sunlight from the rest of the neighborhood. The new legislation addresses this concern by removing height-averaging provisions that allow the height of a home to be based on the height of adjacent homes if it exceeds the 30-foot height limit.
Another commonly disliked aesthetic is the large garages at the forefront of many "megahouses." Under the proposed legislation garage doors limited to 50 percent of the front fa
