Mayor Greg Nickels is looking for qualified candidates to fill twelve upcoming openings on the city of Seattle’s Design Review Board, including one on the Southwest Board, which reviews large-scale developments in West Seattle.

The volunteer positions will be available April 4, 2010 when retiring board members’ terms expire.

“We are looking for professionals in the design and development fields, who have proven skills and established careers," said Nickels in a statement. "We also need community and business leaders with an interest in shaping new development in their neighborhoods, and a passion for keeping Seattle a great place to live, work and play."

Applications will be accepted for the following twelve board positions:

Southwest Design Review Board

• general community interests representative

Northwest Design Review Board

• development interests representative
• local residential interests representative

Northeast Design Review Board

• design professional representative
• development interests representative

Queen Anne/Magnolia/South Lake Union Design Review Board

• general community interests representative

Southeast Design Review Board

• general community interests representative
• development interests representative

Downtown Design Review Board

• design professional representative
• local business interests representative
• general community interests representative

Capitol Hill/First Hill/Central District Design Review Board

• local business interests representative

Application forms are available from www.seattle.gov/designreview or from tom.iurino@seattle.gov The deadline for submitting an application is Dec. 10, 2009.

Board members are appointed by the mayor and city council and serve two-year terms. Members serve on one of seven boards that review projects in the city’s major geographic districts.

Here are the requirements according to a release from the city:

Applicants should have:

• knowledge of, or interest in, architecture, urban design and the development process;
• the ability to evaluate projects based on the city's design guidelines;
• the ability to listen and communicate effectively at public meetings;
• a passion for design and community development; and
• the ability to work well with others under pressure. Prior experience with community or neighborhood groups is a plus.

Board members must live in the city. Following appointment, the local residential interests representative must act as an ambassador to at least one community group or association (e.g. community council) that operates within the board district.

Similarly, following appointment the local business interests representative must act as an ambassador to at least one business group or association (e.g. chamber of commerce) that operates within the board district. Acting as an ambassador is often facilitated if the board member lives or works within the district he or she is serving, but residency in a district is not a requirement to serve as a local representative.

Board members should expect to work 12-14 hours a month attending and preparing for board meetings, which are held twice a month, in the evenings. Board members are expected to attend at least 90 percent of the meetings.

To be considered for appointment to one of the design review boards, please send an application, a cover letter and resume by Dec. 10, 2009 by email to: Iurino
tom.iurino@seattle.gov.

Email applications are preferred, as electronic documents facilitate file sharing among the selection committee. If emailing is not an option, applicants can send their applications via U.S. mail to:



Tom Lurino

Design Review Board

Department of Planning and Development

City of Seattle

700 – 5th Ave Ste 2000

P.O. Box 34019

Seattle, Washington 98124-4019