Title
Design Review Board Annual Retreat: Process Improvement
Report
Issue:
Informational briefings and discussion will focus on the Board's Rules of Procedure, project-specific staff reports and checklists for Board review, and updates to conceptual design review meeting format and structure.
Staff Contact:
Catherine McCoy, Associate Planner, 360.570.3776
Public Notification:
Public notice of the retreat was distributed in an e-news release on November 12, 2019, Public Release & Public Notices.
Presenters:
Jami Heinricher, Chair, Olympia Design Review Board
Catherine McCoy, Associate Planner
Tim Smith, Planning and Engineering Manager, Community Planning and Development
Background and Analysis:
The Olympia Design Review Board will hold an annual retreat on Saturday, November 16, from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM at the Olympia Center, Room 200. This portion of the agenda will focus on process improvement.
Staff member McCoy will share an update to the existing 1996 Design Review Board Rules and Procedures. The intent of the update is to merge the existing document with the citywide Committee Rules of Procedure - eliminating outdated language and procedures, and integrating standardized citywide practices and expectations created by Ordinance and appointed by the Olympia City Council, as amended in 2014.
Planning and Engineering Manager Tim Smith will ask for the Board's feedback regarding updates to project-related staff reports. Board members receive staff reports and analysis checklists with conceptual, detailed and combined project proposals. Board members will discuss key elements they would consider the most valuable and appropriate for improved consistency and efficiency.
Chairperson Jami Heinricher will share ideas for concept design review meeting format and structure improvement. The existing meeting format is outdated, and Board, applicant, and staff roles need to be updated and clarified.
Attachments:
Annual Retreat Agenda
Design Review Board Rules an...
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