Commission reviews Part 3 design standards: sustainability, incentives, universal design and appendix proposal

Becky Fry, senior planning staff, introduced a study-session update to Part 3 of Redmond’s 2025 code package on March 12, 2025, saying staff had published an updated draft that includes a new sustainability and resiliency section and several implementation clarifications for design standards.

Fry told the commission the package includes three main areas of new content (chapter 2000 on incentives implementation, chapter 3000 on suburban-to-urban transitions and building topologies, and relocated or clarified sections for 4000 and 7000) and a proposal to move the design checklist and supplemental standards into a new appendix (proposed Appendix 12) so the city can update those items more quickly as state guidance and industry practice evolve.

Why it matters: Staff said the changes support Redmond 2050 goals for sustainability, universal design, and walkability and make the city’s Green Building incentives (GBP) and the design standards operationally clear. Commissioners and public commenters tested how the provisions will be applied, and staff said several items will go to public hearing in upcoming meetings with a target for council adoption in June.

Key points from the presentation and discussion - Publication and scope: Fry said the city republished an updated draft of the design standards (21.58 v2.1) that includes the previously pending sustainability/resiliency…