Zoning/ADU advice in Seattle

[Max Guerrero]

Hello all. After finally getting our new downstairs tenants in and getting a little breathing room I've started really looking into making the unit legal. I took a trip to the city zoning office today with questions on how to re-zone from sf5000 to lr1 and left with forms on how to apply for an ADU permit. They said that it would be the easiest, most effective way of getting what I want to accomplish done. The downstairs would be up to code for everything but a separate swicth panel, which would need to be done. The only thing, in my mind that would be an issue is, we don't plan on being in this house for longer than a year. And us to keep the ADU permit, wed have to occupy it permanently.

Does anybody have a legal way to have an ADU without residing in the house? If not, what are my choices. What can I do to

1-Have a legal downstairs unit

2-Add as much value as I can to the property.

Thanks in advance.