City staff urge updated design standards to guide Regional Growth Center development

City Manager Steven Suggs and Community & Economic Development Director Kevin Briski told the council a renewed focus on design standards is timely as redevelopment pressure increases within the city’s Regional Growth Center. They argued many recent projects satisfy existing rules but still produce formulaic, cookie‑cutter buildings and that a targeted update could promote buildings that reflect University Place’s character and long‑term aspirations.

Staff proposal: Suggs recommended a scoped process and a modest budget to hire outside design expertise, engage the public and affected commissions, and craft code revisions and incentives that are attainable for developers. Suggs said the city will not “wipe out” its existing design standards — much of the prior work remains useful — but that updates can embed community‑driven design guidance ahead of additional redevelopment.

Council reaction: Members broadly supported starting a structured process that includes a council retreat or workshop with an architectural consultant to elicit council priorities, identify what to preserve versus what to revise, and assess likely timing and costs. Several members urged care to avoid large consultant efforts that produce lots of drawings without implementable code changes; others emphasized transition strategies so neighborhoods already developed under prior standards are not made to look inconsistent.

Next steps: Staff will return with a scope, timeline and budget estimate for a focused design‑standards update, including a recommended public engagement plan and an approach to ensure the work is actionable and preserves affordability where required by state law.