This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "city of Longview cottage housing ordinance."
(Ord. 3506 § 1, 2023)
It is the intent of this chapter to:
(1) 
Support the city's goals for economic development and associated housing;
(2) 
Encourage the efficient use of land in areas of existing public services;
(3) 
Provide diverse housing options;
(4) 
Encourage affordability, creativity and variety in housing design and site development;
(5) 
Promote a variety of housing choices to meet the needs of a population with a variety of individual needs;
(6) 
Allow for a higher residential density than otherwise permitted given the smaller than average home size.
(Ord. 3506 § 1, 2023)
The regulations contained in this chapter shall apply in areas classified as "Residential" in the Longview comprehensive plan.
(Ord. 3506 § 1, 2023)
All applications under this chapter shall be made to the city of Longview building and planning/community development department. The director or his/her designee shall administer, interpret, and enforce the provisions of this chapter and shall provide such forms and establish such procedures as may be necessary to administer this chapter.
(Ord. 3506 § 1, 2023)
(1) 
Two options exist for review of cottage housing development:
(a) 
Cottage housing may be located on an individual lot by creating individual platted lots, which will be subject to land division application.
(b) 
Cottage housing may be located on a common parcel, with access to shared amenities, which will be subject to review as a planned unit development under Chapter 19.66 LMC. The minimum site area standards of Chapter 19.66 LMC shall not apply.
(2) 
Cottage housing developments shall contain a minimum of four dwelling units.
(3) 
Cottage housing shall be developed in clusters with a maximum of 12 units in each cluster; provided, that the overall development may contain more than one cluster.
(4) 
Cottage housing developments may be allowed up to 200 percent of the maximum density of the underlying zoning district.
(5) 
Attached housing types are allowed in cottage housing within the density allowances otherwise provided.
(6) 
Accessory dwelling units shall not be allowed in cottage housing developments.
(a) 
For cottage developments reviewed through land division, a plat restriction shall be included on the face of the final plat prohibiting accessory dwelling units.
(b) 
For cottage developments not subject to land division, a covenant shall be recorded with the Cowlitz County auditor's office prohibiting accessory dwelling units.
(7) 
Minimum lot area and lot dimension standards of the underlying zone shall not apply.
(8) 
The following setbacks shall apply, in addition to those found in the underlying zone:
(a) 
Ten feet from public rights-of-way or private street easements.
(b) 
Ten feet minimum space between buildings (including accessory structures).
(c) 
Twenty feet minimum from a street for garage doors; except this may be reduced to five feet where a garage is accessed via an alley.
(9) 
Parking shall be provided as outlined in Chapter 19.78 LMC. Parking may be clustered in common parking lots or detached or attached garages or carports.
(10) 
Cottages shall have a minimum habitable space as allowed by state law and the city of Longview building code (LMC Title 16) and a maximum habitable space of 1,200 square feet.
(a) 
For cottage developments reviewed through land division, a plat restriction shall be included on the face of the final plat prohibiting development/expansion of habitable space beyond 1,200 square feet.
(b) 
For cottage developments not subject to land division, a covenant shall be recorded with the Cowlitz County auditor's office prohibiting development/expansion of habitable space beyond 1,200 square feet.
(11) 
The maximum building height for cottages and accessory structures within the cottage development shall be 25 feet.
(12) 
Each cottage shall provide a covered entry feature with minimum dimensions of 40 square feet facing a street, pathway or common open space or otherwise approved by the community development director or designee.
(13) 
Cottage developments shall provide a minimum of 400 square feet common usable active open space per dwelling unit.
(14) 
Common on-site accessible open space shall abut a minimum of 50 percent of the cottages in each cluster.
(15) 
Each cottage shall have a minimum of 200 square feet of usable active private open space immediately adjacent to and accessible from the dwelling with no dimension less than 10 feet.
(Ord. 3506 § 1, 2023)
City of Longview department of building and planning/community development is hereby charged with enforcement of this chapter.
(Ord. 3506 § 1, 2023)