New Bellevue

Petition to the state about Bellevue’s Temu cottages

Written by

Nicole

in

Petition: Bellevue’s City Council has voted to approve Middle Housing changes which include a form of single family home that is being called cottages, but which are not being required to have porches or adequate common open space, and are being given an exemption for additional space to be used as a garage (rather than clustering parking on site). In addition, the “cottage” typology is being allowed excessive amounts of impervious surface and lot coverage, and when present on a large lot, they would be expected to have ⅕ as many trees as a single family home under the Bellevue tree credit system. Large lots might have many more units than the four required by the state minimum, and the four plus 2 ADUs that are allowed by the Model Ordinance. At an FAR of 0.9, there could be twenty-six 1500 sqft cottages (not counting garage) per acre. 

When added together, these modifications remove the community feeling that cottages are expected to offer, and we hope you will not approve this element of Bellevue’s intended code, if it is possible to apply the rules for cottages contained within the Model Ordinance.  If it is only possible to use the Model Ordinance in its entirety instead of Bellevue’s LUCA and BCCA that were passed on June 24, 2025, that would also be an appreciated improvement.

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Please email hello@newbellevue.com if you’d like to sign this petition. Just like the last one, there is a very short window, since the state deadline for HB 1110 implementation is June 30th.

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Edit: This petition has been provided to Commerce, but they clarified that their review is only to provide comments, not to approve or deny the rules. I’ll leave up this post and pass along any additional names of people who contact me to say they want to sign, but it looks like we’ll have the cottage rules as passed (and there’s also the fact that up to 400 sqft of driveway can be used toward the common open space requirement, which is unusually lenient).

From the User Guide, page 44 of the pdf:  

Comments

3 responses to “Petition to the state about Bellevue’s Temu cottages”

  1. Xiaohui Huang Avatar
    Xiaohui Huang

    As a Bellevue resident and someone who supports smart, inclusive housing growth, I’m concerned about how the city has chosen to implement the cottage housing provisions under HB 1110. The version recently adopted appears to prioritize density over livability — compromising elements like meaningful shared open space, tree preservation, and thoughtful design.

    What makes cottage housing attractive is its potential to create walkable, neighborly communities. But without porches, with excessive lot coverage, and by allowing driveways to count toward open space, we risk ending up with dense clusters of small homes that feel more like mini-subdivisions than true cottages.

    I believe Bellevue can do better — by aligning more closely with the Model Ordinance’s vision or adopting it in full instead of LUCA and BCCA. Growth is important, but so is preserving character, green space, and a sense of community.

    Please include my name in support of the petition.

    Reply
  2. Liang Wang Avatar
    Liang Wang

    I’m writing to express my support for the petition challenging Bellevue’s current approach to implementing cottage housing under HB 1110.

    The intent behind middle housing reform is something I support — we need more diverse housing options in our city. However, the way Bellevue has defined “cottages” in its code seems to miss the mark. Allowing a high number of large units with minimal open space, reduced tree preservation, and expansive driveways classified as “common space” raises real concerns about livability and long-term neighborhood impact.

    Good planning isn’t just about meeting unit counts — it’s about creating spaces where people want to live, connect, and thrive. I urge our city and state leaders to take a closer look and consider either aligning with the cottage housing guidance in the Model Ordinance or adopting the full Model Ordinance over the LUCA and BCCA passed on June 24.

    Reply
  3. Dongmei Huang Avatar
    Dongmei Huang

    Subject: Support for Petition Opposing Bellevue’s Cottage Housing Code

    I am writing to express my strong support for your petition opposing the recently adopted cottage housing code changes by Bellevue’s City Council.

    While I understand the intention of expanding housing options, I believe the current code deviates too far from the spirit of true “cottage” housing. The newly allowed designs—lacking porches, reducing open shared space, increasing impervious surfaces, and minimizing tree requirements—risk damaging the character, livability, and environmental balance of our neighborhoods like Lochleven.

    Instead of fostering a connected, community-focused atmosphere, these changes promote overdevelopment and isolated clusters of dense units that undermine the peaceful, green character we value.

    I respectfully urge decision-makers to either align Bellevue’s regulations with the Model Ordinance’s standards for cottage housing or adopt the full Model Ordinance instead of LUCA and BCCA.

    Please count me as a supporter of this petition.

    Reply

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