ECONOMIC VITALITY COMMITTEE AGENDA PACKET

PMC Amendments Economic Vitality Committee Page 3 of 6 The Design Review process is broadly required for: • New commercial/industrial developments • All exterior modifications to existing multi-family/commercial/industrial sites or buildings • All signs without a Master Sign Program • New single-family and multi-family units (outside of PUD applications) • Changes to approved residential development plans • Single-family projects noted below Planning staff processes modifications to single-family residential as “Administrative Design Review” (ADR) applications. ADR applications are broadly required for: • Additions and/or accessory structures over 10 feet in height • Roof form changes • New windows over 10 feet in height • Certain fences/walls The Design Review process is important because it protects neighborhood character, scale, and privacy. However, current regulations require Design Review for very minor projects (e.g., changing a window to a door on a commercial building) that objectively will have no impact on the fabric of the community. Application’s Processed Over the past ten years, staff has processed an average of 110 ADRs annually and 42 DR applications annually. A breakdown of the data can be reviewed in Attachment 1. Presently, most of the ADR projects processed are single-story additions and most of the DR applications are for exterior modifications to commercial and multi-family residential sites. A project that requires Design Review before obtaining Building Permits may add 1-6+ months of total required City process time, depending on the complexity and scope of the project and quality of materials submitted to the City. ADRs have the quickest turnaround time for Design Review applications, adding at minimum 30 days (but more typically 40 days) of City process time before an applicant can apply for Building Permits. Design Review Amendments Staff recommends a comprehensive overhaul of PMC Chapter 18.20, which would rescind the Chapter and replace it with amended procedures. The recommendations include revising the projects subject to Design Review, modifying the approval criteria, and clarifying Design Review procedures. Staff believes it is reasonable to no longer require DR for several project types. These projects would still be required to meet all applicable City codes, policies, and adopted plans, and would still be reviewed by all applicable City divisions through the building permit process. Table 1, below, summarizes projects that staff recommend be exempt from Design Review: