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Councilors weigh narrow changes to River Design Overlay to help large parcels
Summary
Staff briefed the committee on a proposal to allow master plan developments (MPDs) to seek broader exemptions from certain River Design Overlay (RDO) standards for parcels 20 acres or larger; staff said about five private parcels would be affected and emphasized safeguards to keep riverfront orientation and walkability.
City planning staff gave the committee an overview of the River Design Overlay (RDO), explaining the overlay’s purpose: orient uses toward the river, keep transparency on riverfront buildings, ensure walkability, and require high‑quality materials and landscaping.
"So a lot of those things — orientation toward the river, transparency, making sure they were walkable — those were important in the overlay design wise," staff said, describing RDO classes for parkland, privately owned riverfront parcels and visible but non‑frontage parcels (RDO1–RDO3). The amendment under discussion would allow master plan developments for parcels of at least 20 acres to seek specific exemptions, while staff said the office would work closely with applicants and the planning commission to retain the intent and safeguards of the overlay. Staff and councilors discussed roughly five privately owned parcels that meet the 20‑acre threshold and questioned how to preserve riverfront standards on large, deep parcels.
Councilors said they intended the change to be a modest, flexible tool rather than a foundational rewrite of river protections; staff recommended an approach that lists standards that apply except those expressly modified in an MPD application.
