Title
Commercial Design Review Expansion - Pre-hearing Briefing
Recommended Action
Briefing only, no action required. The Commission may provide City staff with direction or ask questions in preparation for future public hearing on topic.
Report
Issue:
In December the City adopted a major update of its Comprehensive Plan. Among the many changes, was a revision of the policy describing the scope of 'design review' (the City's process for ensuring appropriate architecture and complementary landscaping). City staff will soon be proposing a development code amendment to implement this revised policy. This code amendment will be joined with a miscellaneous set of clarifications of the design review process. This briefing is in preparation for the Commission's May 18 public hearing regarding this code amendment. (File 13-0114)
Staff Contact:
Todd Stamm, Principal Planner, Community Planning and Development Department, (360.753.8957)
Presenter:
Todd Stamm, Principal Planner
Background and Analysis:
In 1988 Olympia adopted new regulations requiring that certain development projects conform with 'design' requirements. These architectural and landscaping requirements were initially focused on establishing minimum standards for the exteriors of commercial buildings downtown and along 'exit and entrance' corridors. Over the years these design regulations have been expanded to encompass more areas of the City and more types of projects.
Olympia's Comprehensive Plan policy regarding this topic formerly read:
Land Use and Urban Design Policy 8.1 -- Establish design standards for the following projects and establish an administrative review procedure for projects identified in b., c., d., e., f., and g:
a. Commercial and multifamily projects within "design districts" identified in Chapter 18.70 of the Olympia Zoning Ordinance.
b. Multifamily development outside of "design districts", including duplexes and triplexes, and single family reside...
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