Monday night’s meeting on middle housing at Somerset Elementary was an important moment, not just for Somerset, but for neighborhoods across Bellevue. It was a much-needed infusion of transparency. I’d like to extend my thanks to the City staff for showing up and taking questions, even when the discussion got tough.
But the reality is, it shouldn’t have gotten this far.
The initial proposal from the city went too far, and the Planning Commission didn’t scale it back enough. Instead of sticking with the state-required minimums, the proposal added extra density that residents were never truly consulted on.
That’s why Monday’s meeting mattered, because the message from the community was clear: stick to the minimum density required by state law, and no more.
What happened at the meeting
- The Somerset Community Association (SCA) shared an overview of the new state requirements and their concerns with Bellevue’s current proposal
- City staff presented their reasoning for exceeding state minimums, largely citing housing growth targets set by City Council
- Staff answered questions from pre-submitted postcards, but left before the open microphone Q&A could fully begin
- While the discussion was mostly respectful, the room was packed with concerned residents, and nearly all of them disagreed with the City’s proposal.
Key takeaways
- Staff made it clear they will recommend going beyond the state mandates
- The proposal could allow 4 to 8 housing units per lot in many areas
- Neighborhood covenants (like Somerset’s single-family and height restrictions) still stand, but enforcement falls entirely on the HOA or residents, not the City
- Staff admitted that state law doesn’t override these covenants, but offered no real support for residents trying to protect them
Some of what we heard from neighbors
- “We are going past the state minimums.”
- “I can’t tell you what the Planning Commission was thinking.”
- “Why does the City say one thing and then do another?”
- “How does the Planning Commission expect us to remain a city in a park?”
What you can do
The Council will make the final decision, and they need to hear from you. Email your feedback to: council@bellevuewa.gov
Even if you don’t understand every detail, your message still matters. A simple message like, “Please don’t go beyond the state’s required minimum density” sends a strong signal. Thanks for staying engaged and informed. We’ll continue to share updates as this process moves forward.