Puyallup officials are looking to add high-density cottage housing to their city, but first they want to know what residents think.
The Puyallup Planning Commission is holding an open house Wednesday to explain what cottage housing is and answer questions about the design concept.
After that, the commission will develop an ordinance to go before the City Council that would allow the alternative housing option.
Cottage housing typically clusters a group of small single-family homes around a common area, such as a courtyard or a garden, said Katie Baker, an assistant city planner for Puyallup.
It is an alternative to building large houses with individual backyards, accommodating more units per acre while still including enough room for gardens and green space, Baker said.
The houses, typically about 1,000 square feet, could appeal to Puyallup’s growing population of single professionals or young couples, she said.
Puyallup City Manager Gary McLean said a few developers have expressed interest in building cottage housing communities in Puyallup.
Olympia, Kirkland, Seattle and Mukilteo allow cottage housing, Baker said. Federal Way passed a demonstration ordinance to allow a limited number of the housing developments in 2006. University Place did the same last year.
John Palmer, Puyallup’s planning commission chairman, said cottage housing blends with nearby single-family homes better than condominiums and town homes.
A goal of the open house is to show residents examples of cottage housing in other cities and how it could work in Puyallup, Palmer said. Commissioners want to address any concerns about increased housing density, such as the effects on schools or traffic.
Commissioners also want to hear from residents about restrictions or conditions they might like in a cottage housing ordinance, such as the location of developments or how many would be allowed in a single neighborhood.
Mayor Kathy Turner has said the cottage housing idea has the potential to attract new homebuyers.
“It would give us an opportunity to have more home ownership, and I think frankly that’s what our community is about,” Turner said.
Melissa Santos: 253-552-7058
melissa.santos@thenewstribune.com
OPEN HOUSE
What: Come hear about cottage housing and what it could mean for Puyallup. City staff and planning commissioners will be on hand to answer questions.
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Puyallup Public Library, 324 S. Meridian St.
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