Today is the last day to comment on the Department of Planning and Development's proposed microhousing legislation, which seeks to set rules on the controversial "aPodment" wave that started in Capitol Hill and has rippled its way out to Ballard.

We have reported on a couple instances of microhousing happening in Ballard, the one with the most lashback so far being the development taking place at 1715 NW 56th St.

While some argue that the aPodments offer a creative method of affordable housing -- a growing crisis in the Ballard neighborhood as it transitions into a bustling, hip neighborhood -- neighbors are worried that microhousing will change the very character of the community. They also feel that developers are abusing the land use code any way they can to make a "quick buck."

According to project documents, DPD has proposed the following 10 actions to clarify regulation of microhousing:

1. Define “micro-housing” and “micro” under Residential Use within the Land Use Code.

2. Prohibit micro-housing developments in single-family zones.

3. Apply a design review threshold for micro-housing and congregate residences by the size of the building (not number of dwelling units).

4. Update development standards for micro-housing and congregate residences to add a minimum size requirement for shared kitchens and common areas.

5. Limit kitchen components in individual micros and sleeping rooms to differentiate from dwelling units.

6. Update development standards to ensure appropriate size of refuse collection areas in micro- housing and congregate residence developments.

7. Update development standards for quantity of required vehicle and bicycle parking in micro- housing and congregate residence developments.

8. Clarify eligibility for Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) passes for occupants of micro-housing and congregate residences.

9. Account for micro-housing and congregate residence sleeping rooms in progress towards residential growth targets.

10. Deepen the required affordability levels for participation in incentive zoning for affordable housing for projects with micro-housing or congregate residences, and for very small studio apartments.

You can email your feedback or ideas to mike.podowski@seattle.gov or geoffrey.wentlandt@seattle.gov.

For more info, visit http://seattle.gov/dpd/codesrules/changestocode/micros/whatwhy/

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