Somerset Community Association
Bellevue, WA
Bellevue, WA
 CRC Invites you to the March CRC Meeting The Somerset Covenant Review Committee (CRC) Invites you its FIRST CRC Meeting open to ALL Somerset Residents
Date: Wednesday, March 5 Time: 7PM Location: Zoom Attendance. You must register to receive the invite link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/pz-zOdwnTjGGikzMB48UDQ Meeting Objectives:
Applicants: Share your proposal and/or anything you’d like your neighbors to know. (optional) Neighbors: How do you think this remodel would impact your property or your enjoyment of your property? (optional) Covenant Review Committee Stay informed. Get involved. Learn about Somerset Impacts. Important message, please translate: 重要信息，请翻译成您的语言 The City of Bellevue is hosting public information sessions next week in preparation for amending Land Use Codes to permit middle housing in single-family residential areas. These amendments will update Bellevue’s Land Use Code and City Code for compliance with House Bills (HB) 1110 and 1337 to expand the number and type of housing units permitted in residential areas of the city.  While the legislation establishes a minimum of how many units may be permitted on a lot, Bellevue has flexibility in how its development regulations accommodate these units in order to encourage Middle Housing development. These areas of flexibility include changing the building code requirements for building height, setbacks, lot coverage, etc. to accommodate multi-family zoning. Based on the City’s website, residential areas will need to allow other housing types. Here are some of their examples:
Somerset’s covenants prevent multifamily housing, so why does this matter to us? Somerset’s covenants do not allow for multifamily housing, but the City of Bellevue issues permits regardless of our covenants, as the City is not responsible to validate covenant compliance prior to issuing a permit. The Bellevue permit process does not ensure compliance with (or inform applicants of) Somerset’s single-family covenants. Somerset needs to decide if it wants to remain a SF neighborhood, and if so, multifamily housing, short-term rentals, and ADUs need to be actively restricted, relying on the enforcement strength of the SF covenant provision. Will the Covenant Review Committee (CRC) deny multifamily remodel applications? Since Somerset’s covenants do not allow for multifamily housing, the CRC will deny all multifamily remodel applications. However, the CRC cannot force homeowners to go through the CRC application process. In divisions that do not require CRC approval for building or remodel projects, neighboring homeowners will need to act directly. Who is responsible for enforcing a CRC remodel denial? Per the covenants, it is up to individual homeowners to legally enforce and prevent the multifamily home from being constructed. Are Somerset’s covenants banning multifamily housing legally enforceable? SCA has consulted its attorney who is a land use expert. Our current position is that HB1110 and any resulting city code change does not preclude the application of the covenant limitation to single-family residences. However, state and local laws are always changing, and ultimately individual judges will interpret the law as they see fit. Please also consult your personal attorney. How can we prevent this from escalating into legal battles? The SCA wants to engage with the City of Bellevue to see if applicants can be better informed when entering the permitting process. The SCA is looking for volunteers to join a committee that will identify strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of middle housing on individual homeowners. We highly value your input on this matter. Please provide your feedback through the following poll: If you have specific questions for the SCA/CRC please email us at [email protected].
Please refer to the following two links from City of Bellevue for more information:  Middle Housing Code Amendments Update
Thank you to those who have already RSVP'd for our information sessions next week! If you haven't, don't miss your chance to learn about upcoming changes to middle housing regulations in Bellevue. The City will host three public information sessions to present key aspects of the draft middle housing regulations. Register online for one of the upcoming information sessions. Upcoming events
Questions? Please contact Kirsten Mandt, Senior Planner via email or 425-452-4861. The Board is still planning to attend in person. If you have weather concerns, please note the zoom option (link at bottom). Please Join Us on Thursday, February 13, 6:30–8:00 PM for a Special Meeting to discuss View Protections and the “Third Amendment”. This Special Meeting is intended for SCA Members only and will be the first in a series of Special Meetings. Our goal for the first meeting is to establish a common understanding of what “View Protection” is. No voting will be considered, this meeting is for information sharing and discussion only. Meeting Presentation (please bring a copy to the meeting and follow along): The Meeting will be held at:
The Fellowship Hall of Aldersgate Church 14230 SE Newport Way Bellevue, WA 98006 Entrance and parking are at the Upper Level Join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87981146160?pwd=EV0NJrYS0fKVH8lMbHG2pH4iExCu05.1 Meeting ID: 879 8114 6160 Passcode: 044543 Meeting Presentation Slides and Weather Concerns Please Join Us on Thursday, February 13, 6:30–8:00 PM for a Special Meeting to discuss View Protections and the “Third Amendment”. Since there is a potential for snow, the meeting may be hosted solely on Zoom as a backup plan. We will send an update in the afternoon.
This Special Meeting is intended for SCA Members only and will be the first in a series of Special Meetings. Our goal for the first meeting is to establish a common understanding of what “View Protection” is. No voting will be considered, this meeting is for information sharing and discussion only. Meeting Presentation (please bring a copy to the meeting and follow along): The Meeting will be held at: The Fellowship Hall of Aldersgate Church 14230 SE Newport Way Bellevue, WA 98006 Entrance and parking are at the Upper Level Join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87981146160?pwd=EV0NJrYS0fKVH8lMbHG2pH4iExCu05.1 Meeting ID: 879 8114 6160 Passcode: 044543 |
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