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Belleview council adopts new public–private partnership development pathway
Summary
The council unanimously adopted Ordinance 6911 to create a public–private partnership development agreement (P3DA) pathway allowing greater flexibility on city-owned or city-funded projects while requiring disclosure of public benefits and public notice. Council emphasized transparency and good-neighbor agreements for uses including homelessness services.
Belleview’s City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 6911 on April 21, 2026, establishing a public–private partnership development agreement (P3DA) land-use pathway the city can use when it owns property or contributes major funding to a project.
The ordinance authorizes development agreements when the city is a major funder (defined in the proposal as at least 10% of project cost and a minimum of $5 million) or the property owner is the city. Staff said the P3DA pathway is intended to secure public benefits—such as affordable housing, sustainability measures and economic development—while giving developers regulatory certainty.
City planning director Nick Whipple told the council the code change consolidates scattered DA provisions into a single chapter, clarifies when a P3DA is authorized and preserves a multi-step council review process. Whipple said applicants will have to show how an agreement differs from underlying rules and clearly identify the public benefits they offer in exchange for development flexibility.
Council Member Lynn Robinson called the tool “a win-win for the community,” while emphasizing the importance of public-benefit transparency. “A good DA is really a win-win for the community and I love the opportunity to define the public benefit based on council policy priorities,” Robinson said.
Under the proposed framework, council will typically see projects in three steps: initiation, a detailed study session and a final action. For proposals involving homelessness services, staff confirmed the existing requirement for a good-neighbor agreement remains in place and can be required as part of a DA negotiation.
The council opened and closed the public hearing without public testimony; two written comments had been received. Deputy Mayor Hamilton moved to adopt the ordinance and Council Member Newan House seconded. The motion passed unanimously (yes: Mayor Malakoutian; Deputy Mayor Hamilton; Council members Varava, Narin Brier, Newan House, Lynn Robinson and Sumodoria).
The P3DA pathway does not itself approve a project; rather it creates an authorized process for the city and applicants to negotiate binding development agreements that will return to council for any final approvals. Staff said they will continue outreach and will require public notice for individual entitlements and agreements.
