Commission studies Part 3 design standards for Redmond 2050; public commenter urges cultural and universal-design detail

During a study session Feb. 12, the Redmond Planning Commission received a detailed briefing on the draft design standards (Part 3) of the Redmond 2050 code package and discussed the organization, major content changes, and review process staff propose.

David Morton, a Redmond resident who spoke during public comment about Agenda Item 6, commended the draft for its "emphasis on equity, inclusion and sustainability" and for integrating "universal design requirements and visibility standards." Morton also recommended expanding guidance on cultural expression in architecture and public spaces and urged staff to ensure the reformatted standards meet the requirements of House Bill 1293.

Becky Fry and Kim Dietz, who led the staff presentation, described the structure of the consolidated chapter (RMC 21.58) and said the code would be organized by topic so applicants and staff can find standards by element (for example, entries, street walls, weather protection). Fry said the package includes a new, standalone section for universal design with a checklist to qualify projects for incentives, and that the city is seeking to make standards objective and measurable where state law requires it.

Kim Dietz explained the outreach and downtown-focused work: staff held walking "walk and talk" sessions, participated in public events and virtual engagement, and captured community design themes such as active ground-floor retail, outdoor living spaces, and rooftop activation to be carried into the standards.

Staff stressed consistency with House Bill 1293’s requirement for clear and objective design standards and noted that design review will be integrated with land-use and environmental review so applicants receive concurrent feedback on design and regulatory compliance. The package also adds administrative design flexibility in many places to allow alternatives if projects meet or exceed the intent of a standard.

Major content highlights staff identified include: - A new Chapter 21.58 that consolidates scattered design material into subject-based sections; purpose statements will precede measurable standards and any identified flexibility. - A new universal-design section (2000-series) to support incentives and to define qualifying features (adult changing rooms, sensory rooms, weather-protected loading zones, visibility measures, etc.). - Substantive updates in the 3000-series covering building form and scale, street walls, stepbacks, corner treatments, materials and details, weather protection, and active retail at ground level. - A mass-timber section to allow limited deviations needed to build mass-timber structures where typical standards assume conventional construction.

Commissioners asked how cottage developments and existing buildings will be treated; staff said cottage-style standards were already adopted as part of the residential regulations and will be carried forward in a streamlined way, and that existing buildings are expected to coexist with new development as the city seeks a broader diversity of forms. Staff clarified that town-center-specific regulations were withheld from the consolidated 21.58 because a town-center project is currently under review and staff did not want to change regulations mid-review.

Staff presented a timeline that targets March 26 for a public hearing, additional Planning Commission discussion in April, City Council review in May and June, and an anticipated consolidated effective date of June 30 so all code packages would go into effect together.

Commissioners were asked to focus their review on whether the purpose statements reflect Redmond 2050 goals and whether consolidation omitted anything that should remain regulated. The commission indicated it would conduct detailed review over subsequent meetings; a brief recess followed the study session.

"We are hoping for a motion to approve the actual draft amendments and a motion to approve the planning commission report," Fry said earlier in the meeting when introducing the packet; the motions to approve parts 1 and 2 were subsequently passed.

The transcript does not record final council actions; the study session set out staff requests for focused commission review and a near-term hearing schedule.