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Community groups urge retention and reform of design review as city considers temporary exemption
Summary
Speakers at the committee hearing urged the council not to abandon meaningful design review and called for transparent, participatory reforms tied to measurable milestones even as the city considers a six-month reenactment of interim controls.
Multiple community members and neighborhood advocates told the Land Use & Sustainability Committee on July 30 that design review remains a necessary public check as Seattle grows and that any temporary extension should include clear public engagement and measurable milestones.
Bill Zozel, who identified himself with the Central Area Land Use Review Committee and Allied Arts, said, "I think that design review is important," and urged staff and council to open the process for public participation during the interim period. Andrea Veneco, representing the South Lake Union Community Council and the Design Review Reboot Coalition, said reform "doesn't have to compromise the speed" of project delivery but must preserve community input.
Megan Cruz told the committee "there's really been no information on what's being done to update the program" during the moratorium and recommended a forum that includes community reps, developers and city planners. Tina Beshin said an extension "should therefore be tied to clear work plans with defined milestones of measurable outcomes" and asked that the process include a broad range of stakeholders.
Grace Burke, a District 4 homeowner, urged council members to reject CB 121243, arguing that voluntary design review lets market-rate developers maximize building footprints without accountability and harms neighborhood character. "I urge the council to reject CB 121243," she said.
Speakers emphasized early, transparent engagement and suggested staff return to the committee with defined milestones and outreach plans before a permanent program is adopted.
