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Design Review Board faces proposed elimination; members push back
Summary
City staff said a planning-commission proposal would recommend eliminating the volunteer Design Review Board later this year. Multiple board members criticized the proposal and urged preservation of the board’s advisory role.
City planning staff informed the volunteer Design Review Board that a proposed amendment to remove the board from the development-review process is scheduled for planning commission consideration, and board members responded with unanimous concern about losing an independent, expert advisory review.
Mariana, a city planner, told the board that “there will be a proposed amendment going before the planning commission on Tuesday, February 19, that proposes to eliminate the design review board.” She said the amendment follows a city council resolution passed in April 2024 and that, if adopted through the usual process, it could go into effect in June.
Board members said the advisory body provides value beyond the written design guidelines. Jeff (board member) described the change as “a huge disappointment,” saying the city appears to be trading design oversight for expediency. Another member observed that staff memos supporting the change did not include the analysis and data the board had requested and urged staff to circulate the planning-commission transmittal memo and any analysis to board members when it is published.
Several members told staff that in practice the board’s review yields concrete design improvements. One board member said staff reports tend to be “glowing” and lack the critical suggestions that volunteers with design expertise provide; another said the guidelines themselves are dated and need updating to maintain design quality if the board is removed.
Staff said the planning-commission report will be transmitted to commissioners and that the planning manager’s transmittal memo would be published by the end of the week. Mariana agreed to request that the planning-commission packet also be sent to the design review board members for their review.
Board members asked for continued opportunities to provide comments to planning commission and city council during the pending public hearings. No formal action was taken by the board on the proposed amendment during the meeting.
