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Board approves temporary changes to staff approval list but keeps new-construction review
Summary
City staff proposed end-of-year temporary modifications to the UIDB staff approval list to expand staff-level approvals; the board approved the changes but struck the proposed exemption that would have allowed staff approval of new construction of four units or less, preserving board purview for those cases.
City planning staff proposed temporary modifications to the University District Design Review Board’s staff-approval checklist to give staff greater ability to approve minor and repeatable cases through the end of the year while operations and staffing are adjusted.
Stephanie Kendler walked the board through redlined changes that clarify when staff may still bring items to the board, expand items eligible for staff review (renewals without change, certain minor roofing/color flexibility, clarified variance recommendations) and add a process for staff recommendations on variances consistent with items already on the staff-approval list.
Board members supported giving staff additional flexibility but said they did not want new construction of four units or less to bypass board review. On a motion to approve the temporary modifications with the condition that the new-construction exemption be struck, the board voted in favor; the modified list will be used while staff works to finalize a longer-term approach. Staff emphasized that any item still may be brought to the board at staff’s discretion or at an applicant’s request.
The change is temporary through December and may revert or be restructured after that date; the board’s action preserves board review authority for small new-construction proposals.
