City planning and development staff briefed the Duval City Council on Sept. 16 about a series of development applications and code work, including submission of a draft impact-fee code amendment to the Washington State Department of Commerce for its 60-day statutory review period.

Staff said the DuPont (mosque) project resubmitted materials for a third review and likely will go to the planning commission for design review within about eight weeks. The Gene Society project completed an initial round of review after arriving about four to five weeks earlier, and the Acres of Diamond project’s first review is anticipated to be finished this week. Staff said Acres of Diamond has faced funding and fundraising pauses and that the administration is monitoring progress.

Regarding impact fees, staff said the draft amendment was formally sent to Commerce for review. Following Commerce’s 60-day review, the amendment will return to planning commission for a workshop and hearings before coming to the city council; staff said the anticipated adoption timetable is January.

Staff also updated the council on the Main Street project (a design hearing scheduled for October), a preapplication meeting tomorrow for a three-building mixed-use development north of Copper Hill Square, and other building activity. Staff reported the final condo building permit at a 65-unit site has been issued, Sunset Court is in final framing, and Willow Ridge Lot 21 Buildings 3 and 4 have received occupancy. The department also reported it is 25% complete with a historical permit-scanning project to digitize older paper records and that home-occupation and business-license activity is up.

Why it matters: The Commerce review is a required step for GMA-related changes and will affect when an updated impact-fee code and fee schedule could take effect. Planning-commission and council hearings will allow public input on the code amendment and on individual development projects.

Staff said phase-two work (including cohousing language and a high-impact-fee definition) is ready for the next submission to Commerce and that planners expect a heavy fall and winter calendar for reviews and hearings. No formal council action was requested Sept. 16; staff asked the council to note the calendar and upcoming hearings.