Design Review Program Overview

Design Review Program Created in 1994 to… o Encourage better design & site planning that enhances the character of the city & ensures that new development fits sensitively into neighborhoods o Provide flexibility in the application of development standards o Improve communication and participation among developers, neighbors, and the City early in the design and siting of new development

Design Guidelines Design Guidelines are used … o As Code authority by the Design Review Program o By Design Review Boards & City staff to judge the merits of proposed projects o To inform the development of 18 sets of supplemental guidelines known as the Neighborhood Design Guidelines Seattle’s Design Guidelines include … o Citywide o Downtown o Neighborhood-Specific

3 Types of Design Review: 1/Full Design Review – design review board input at public meeting 2/Administrative Design Review –staff review, optional, for smaller projects 3/Streamlined Administrative Design Review –staff review, required for two or more townhouses, developed in 2011 when the multifamily code was updated and began to distinguish between townhouse and row house housing typologies

Design Review Boards o City is divided into 7 Boards o Each Board has 5 members representing the following interests: 1.community 2.design 3.development 4.residential 5.business o All Board members are volunteers and are appointed by the Mayor and Council for a 2-year term that can be extended by 2 years

Full Design Review (DR) Early Design Guidance (EDG) Phase Master Use Permit Application (MUP) Publish Decision Building Permit Recommendation (REC) Phase ❶public notice; comment period may be extended ❷packet posted online ❸public meeting with design review board ❹ focus on sensitivity to context, site planning, massing exploration ❺meeting report of Board guidance prepared by staff ❶ public notice; comment period may be extended ❷ packet posted online ❸public meeting with design review board ❹ focus on materials, architectural detailing, landscape design, responsiveness to previous guidance ❺ Board makes recommendations on departure requests ❻meeting report of Board guidance prepared by staff ❶public notice ❷ 2 week appeal period ❸ appeals go to Hearing Examiner ❹if no appeal, permit is issued Identify design guidelines of highest priority, give early feedback Evaluate how design has responded to EDG ❶public notice; comment period may be extended Includes discretionary reviews (DR, SEPA, etc.) as well as zoning DPD Director’s Decision

Administrative Design Review (ADR) Early Design Guidance (EDG) Phase Master Use Permit Application (MUP) Publish Decision Building Permit Recommendation (REC) Phase ❶public notice; comment period may be extended ❷packet posted online ❸focus on sensitivity to context, site planning, massing exploration ❹guidance report prepared by staff ❶ public notice; comment period may be extended ❷ packet posted online ❸focus on materials, architectural detailing, landscape design, responsiveness to previous guidance ❹ Staff makes recommendations on departure requests ❺recommendation report prepared by staff ❶public notice ❷ 2 week appeal period ❸ appeals go to Hearing Examiner ❹if no appeal, permit is issued Identify design guidelines of highest priority, give early feedback Evaluate how design has responded to EDG ❶public notice; comment period may be extended Includes discretionary reviews (DR, SEPA, etc.) as well as zoning DPD Director’s Decision

Streamlined Design Review (SDR) Early Design Guidance (EDG) Phase Building Permit ❶public notice; ❷packet posted online ❸focus on sensitivity to context, site planning, massing exploration ❹guidance report prepared by staff Identify design guidelines of highest priority, give early feedback