District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold shared her perspective on changes that were passed by the City Council last week on the city's Design Review Program.

Herbold writes:

"On Monday the Council voted unanimously for changes to the Design Review Program. Previously it was heard in the Planning, Land Use, and Zoning committee on each 8/1, 8/15, and 9/19 and there was a public hearing on 9/11.

Here is an update on the amendments that were made in committee that I sponsored that, taken together with our amendments sponsored by other Councilmembers, significantly changed the Executive’s proposal that I heard concerns about from many of you:

Here is a description of the changes I that I promoted by sponsoring amendments that successfully passed:

Change 1:

1. The Mayor’s proposal:  A new 10,000-square foot threshold for design review project eligibility.  That threshold would have removed a significant number of projects that the community should have input on.  Under the Mayor’s proposal 29% of projects currently subject to Design Review would have no longer received any design review at all.
   
   My amendment:  10A in the table below reflects the changes to the proposed thresholds.  Under this new proposal just 19% of projects that currently receive design review will no longer be subject to design review and 45% of all projects that currently receive design review will still receive Full Design Review.  Many other projects will continue to receive Streamlined or Administrative Design Review.

2. The Mayor’s proposal included both a Hybrid Design Review process and a Hybrid Pilot Project.  No one seemed to like it, neither community members nor developers.
   
   My amendment:  Removed the Hybrid Design Review Process and the Hybrid Pilot Project.

Change 3:

3. This amendment, derived by a suggestion from District 1 resident and Morgan Community Association President Deb Barker, was especially designed for projects in areas that are rezoned from single-family to LR1 and LR2.  I want to ensure that neighborhoods that are rezoned for greater density in the future will also have a greater say in how the new development occurs in their community. Areas that are rezoned from single-family to Low Rise 1 and Low Rise 2 and are between 5,000 and 8,000 square feet will go through Streamlined Design Review.  Areas that are rezoned from single-family to Low Rise 3 and are between 5,000 and 8,000 square feet will go through Administrative Design Review.
   
   A description of the terms Streamlined Design Review, and Administrative Design Review can be found here."