Somerset Community Association
Bellevue, WA
Bellevue, WA
 Housing Density Committee, View Guideline Committee, Call for Volunteers, Zoom meeting Kick-off The SCA Board would like to announce two new committees and other volunteer opportunities!
Last month, the Board sent a survey regarding City of Bellevue’s implementation of middle housing. We received around 100 responses and 88% of those people requested a committee be formed to prevent multifamily housing in Somerset, in response the Board has approved the launch of the HOUSING DENSITY COMMITTEE. This committee IS NOT intended to oppose HB1110, or Bellevue’s implementation of HB1110 minimum requirements. Committee objectives include working closely with Bellevue and other associations to ensure that Bellevue’s implementation does not weaken covenant authority, minimizing neighbor conflict over middle housing permits as HB1110 does not override covenants, and challenging state legislation that attempts to override covenants in the future. If you are interested in volunteering and learning more, please register and join us at 7PM on Wednesday, March 19 for the HOUSING DENSITY COMMITTEE Zoom Kick-off: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/RoMO3gPjQaySkbGofAEwJw Over the past several months, the Board has received requests to sponsor a committee to reevaluate the View Guidelines used by the CRC to assess view impacts. In response the Board has approved a VIEW GUIDELINE COMMITTEE to work with all the divisions supported by the CRC to consider modifications. If you are interested in volunteering and learning more, please register and join us at 7PM on Wednesday, April 16 for the VIEW GUIDELINE COMMITTEE Zoom Kick-off: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/THSb8LSZS1CDtUiVomgLhA 2025 is shaping up to be a busy year, if you are interested in volunteering your time on these or other committees, including Neighborhood Pride, Landscaping (Including the Entrance Island Fountain update), Events, Communications, Neighborhood Security, the Welcoming Committee, or joining the Board by appointment, email [email protected] and describe how your knowledge, skills, and interests can contribute to the SCA in 2025. Somerset Middle Housing Survey Results and City Planning Commission MeetingStay 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 Planning Commission is meeting tomorrow night (3/12 at 6:30PM) to discuss the current Middle Housing draft code! If you'd like to provide input, please attend. You can also register as a speaker: Planning Commission Oral Communications | City of Bellevue. The speaker signup form is available at noon on the day of the meeting. Meeting details: Planning Commission Meeting | City of Bellevue Draft Code: https://bellevuewa.gov/sites/default/files/media/pdf_document/2025/dsd-02242025-middle-housing-luca-february-draft.pdf Informational PPT: PowerPoint Presentation Notably, the following changes are proposed to encourage middle housing and may be of importance to you:
As a reminder: Somerset covenants have single-family restrictions, which Bellevue will not enforce. The SCA lacks the authority to enforce these covenants, so it is important for homeowners to take responsibility for enforcing them. Somerset Survey Results are in:  Please refer to the following two links from City of Bellevue for more information:
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. PSA: City of Bellevue Amendments to Land Use Codes to Permit Middle Housing (Multifamily zoning) in Single-family Residential Areas YOUR FEEDBACK IS REQUESTED! Stay informed, impacts on Somerset The City of Bellevue just sent the following update on their amendments to 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. 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 CRC approval or covenants can be considered as part of 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: |
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