Resolution 450PLANNING COMMISSION
RESOLUTION NO. 450
A RESOLUTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS
RECOMMENDING NO CHANGE TO THE OFFICIAL ZONING ORDINANCE
SECTION 12.12.070, DEFINITION OF A "FAMILY", AS SET FORTH
IN PLANNING COMMISSION FILE ZO-15-74.
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of
Edmonds, pursuant to proper notice and publication, held a
public hearing on a proposed amendment to the Official Zoning
Ordinance, Section 12.12.070, to review the definition of a
"family", and
WHEREAS, having made findings set forth in
"Exhibit:A" attached hereto, and there being no comments or
recommendations made from the audience during the public
hearing, the Planning Commission recommends that no change
be made to the definition of a "family"; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission
recommends and forwards to the City Council of the City of
Edmonds that there be no change to the Official Zoning
Ordinance Section 12.12.070 Definition of a "family".
DATED as of the 17th day of July, 1974.
Chaiyon, Edmonds Planning Commission
4)1i
Edmonds"'Ci ty P1,anner
File No: ZO-15-74
Hearing Date: 7/17/74
Initiated by: Lila Smith
Resolution No. 450
"EXHIBIT A"
The Planning Commission established the following findings:
1. The present term "family" means one or more persons related by blood,
marriage, adoption or a group of not more than six persons (excluding
servants) not related by blood or marriage, living together as a single
housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit.
2. No specific change was requested by the applicant. The intent of the
review was to eliminate the portion of the definition which allows six
unrelated persons to live together as a housekeeping unit.
3. Factors to be considered in creating a new definition are:
a. More restrictive definition would be impossible to regulate
and enforce. The present definition would probably be difficult
to enforce without actually asking for personal identification
such as birth certificates or marriage licenses.
b. To eliminate all living situations where persons are unrelated
to each other may endanger or interfere with interpersonal relation-
ships which the City has no right to regulate such as foster parents,
aged or youthful persons who are sharing housing to meet costs,
boarding houses and other situations.
c. On the basis of equal protection the change in the definition must
apply to all residential districts equally whether they are single-
family or multi -family and all housing units.
d. Since any number of related persons may live in one dwelling unit,
there would not appear to be any clear relationship to public health,
welfare, or safety in prohibiting unrelated persons from living
together. The intent of the "family" definition is to prevent over-
crowding of dwelling units, not to eliminate what some persons may
consider undesirable living arrangements.
4. The Present definition is adequate to prevent over -crowding of dwelling
units by more than one family. The Planning Commission therefore recommends
that no change be made in the definition of "family" as set forth in
Section 12.12.070 of the Official Zoning Ordinance.