Auburn planners update downtown design standards, hold open house and invite public feedback

City planners in Auburn presented proposed updates to downtown design standards intended to make rules for new development clearer and more predictable, and they urged residents and business owners to review draft standards and provide feedback.

Alyssa Tetreault, a city planner who joined the Auburn on Main podcast to discuss the updates, said the standards guide what new construction and substantial alterations in downtown should look like and are being aligned with the city’s recently updated downtown sub-area plan. "The downtown design standards are essentially design guidelines that influence what a new development in the downtown is going to look like," Tetreault said.

Why it matters: The update aims to replace subjective guidance with objective, measurable rules that give developers and applicants a clearer path through permitting. Tetreault gave an example of the change in approach: "If you're on these key streets, then you have to have 50% transparency of your front façade," she said, describing how a numeric threshold could replace vague language such as "it has to look nice." The change is intended to enhance walkability, placemaking and business visibility in Auburn’s downtown.

What the standards cover and when they apply: Planners said the update focuses on building details — such as façade transparency and other elements that improve the pedestrian experience — and applies when a property owner proposes new construction or a significant addition. Existing buildings would not be retroactively required to comply, Tetreault said: the standards come into play for development proposals and site expansions, not routine ongoing uses.

Public input and next steps: The city hosted an open house (City Hall council chambers, 4–6 p.m.) to display draft standards and take feedback. Planners directed listeners to the downtown project page on the city’s Speak Up Auburn site where draft materials are posted and to submit comments by email to planning@auburnwa.gov. Tetreault said the planning commission will hold a public hearing as the next formal step; the commission may recommend changes, forward a recommendation to the city council, or return the work to staff if substantial public comment requires further revisions.

Limits and context: Tetreault said the update is not an entirely new framework; many standards already exist and this process is intended to make them more objective and predictable. She also noted that the effort was informed by a house bill (not specified on the podcast) that requires jurisdictions to adopt clearer, objective standards. The podcast did not identify a bill number.

How to comment: Planners encouraged anyone with an interest in downtown design to review draft standards on the Speak Up Auburn project page and either attend the public hearing when scheduled or email planning@auburnwa.gov. The city also said it will post hearing dates and additional information on the project page.

What the update does not do: Questions during the conversation clarified that park amenities such as skate parks are generally a parks department function; while planning staff can zone land for certain uses, the parks department or a private developer would typically deliver and manage a skate park if one were built.

The planning staff asked residents to submit feedback early in the process so concerns can be addressed before the draft moves to the planning commission and city council.