[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
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-- OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. JULY
30th, 2026. LAND USE AND
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT'S 2:04 P.M..
I'M EDDIE LIN, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WILL THE COMMITTEE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK HERE.
CHAIR LIN HERE., AND I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS., AS AN
ATTENDEE. I'M PROMOTING HIM
RIGHT NOW. OKAY. HOLD ON. CHAIR.
THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS PRESENT.
-- OKAY.. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH IS EXCUSED FROM
TODAY'S MEETING., IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION.
-- JUST NOTE. JUST NOTING. I'M
PRESENT. SORRY.
-- TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY.
PERFECT. THANK YOU. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK
YOU ALL FOR COMING TO THIS
THURSDAY MEETING TO DISCUSS LAND
USE. IT'S ALWAYS. THANK YOU TO
OUR CITY CLERK'S COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF MAYOR'S OFFICE SDCI FOR
HELPING US PREPARE FOR THIS
MEETING. WE JUST HAVE ONE ITEM
ON THE AGENDA TODAY. AND,, JUST
FOR CLARITY, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT FIRST. AND THAT WILL
JUST BE JUST IN GENERAL FOR
ITEMS THAT WOULD COME BEFORE THE
LAND USE COMMITTEE. SPECIFICALLY
FOR OUR BILL, ON THE DESIGN
REVIEW, WE WILL HAVE A SEPARATE
PUBLIC HEARING. SO IF YOU'RE
HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT, PLEASE
SIGN UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING
PORTION OF THE OF THE COMMENT.
SO THAT, THAT COMES NEXT. SO
RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST DOING
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. SO WE
WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD
RELATE TO ITEMS WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE CLERK.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
-- WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS SIGNED
UP.
-- OKAY., EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES. WE WILL START WITH
IN PERSON SPEAKERS. FIRST CLERK
CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC
COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS?
-- THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 60
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED IN PERSON. SPEAKERS
WILL BE CALLED FIRST, AFTER
WHICH WILL MOVE TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS UNTIL THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD ENDED. SPEAKERS
WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN TWO
MINUTES ARE LEFT OF THEIR TIME.
SPEAKERS WILL BE MUTED IF THEY
DO NOT END THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN
THE ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN AND WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON OUR LIST, AND
THAT IS HANNAH ZIFF.
-- HI, I'M FROM PIONEER SQUARE
AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT
LAND USE REGULATIONS. IT'S TOO
WASTEFUL FOR CITIZENS TO ABSORB
ALL THE COSTS OF DEVELOPER
GREED. THERE ARE SO MANY EMPTY
LOTS AND OFFICES DOWNTOWN THAT
IT'S CLEARLY A MEGA INVESTMENT
SCHEME TO MANIPULATE THE SEATTLE
AND US MARKET, AND WE WON'T
STAND FOR IT WHEN GOOD
PROPERTIES ARE TURNED DOWN FOR
NEW CONSTRUCTION DEALS. AND
THERE ARE TOO MANY UNUSED LOTS,
EMPTY LOTS. IT'S THE DEFINITION
OF A WASTELAND, AND THIS MUST BE
AVOIDED BY HAVING A ROBUST MIXED
USE OF ALL OUR SPACES DOWNTOWN.
JUST AS WE WANT TO, IMPEDE
PEOPLE FROM BUILDING HOUSING ON
THESE EMPTY LOTS, WE SHOULD ALSO
FINE EMPTY LOT HOLDERS IN THE
PROCEEDS OF THAT SHOULD GO TO A
CONCIERGE. THAT WOULD HELP THEM
EITHER DEVELOP OR SELL THEIR
LOT. PEOPLE AGAINST DEVELOPMENT
SAY THERE ARE NO STICKS FOR
DEVELOPERS, ONLY CARROTS. AND I
HAVE TO AGREE THAT LARGE SCALE
DEVELOPERS SEEM FAR TO
INCENTIVIZE TO MONOPOLIZE LARGE
AMOUNTS OF LAND IN A TYPE OF
SLUMLORD REDLINING SCHEME. WE
WANT TO CATCH UP WITH MEETING
HOUSING REQUIREMENTS WITH THE
MEANS WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US.
WE SHOULD CONTINUE ELIMINATING
AND MITIGATING INCENTIVES FOR
BEHAVIORS THAT ARE COUNTER TO
THIS, ALONG WITH MAKING THE
APPROVAL PROCESS EASIER FOR
HOUSING. PLEASE INSTALL A LAND
VALUE TAX OR FINE TO STOP
WASTING LAND DOWNTOWN. AND I
WANT DEVELOPERS TO FILL IN THESE
SPOTS DOWNTOWN SOON. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU
-- NEXT UP WE HAVE ANGELA
DEJESUS.
-- HELLO, I'M ANGELA. OH,
SORRY. THANK YOU. HELLO, I'M
ANGELA DEJESUS FROM DISTRICT
SEVEN., I GUESS I WANT TO START
WITH, SHOOT THAT. WE SHOULD
REZONE SODA., I KNOW A LOT OF
PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE DOWN THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF EMPTY
BUILDINGS DOWN THERE. I DRIVE
AROUND THERE, YOU KNOW, AND I
SEE, YOU KNOW, FOR LEASE, FOR
LEASE FOR LEASE. AND I THINK
THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE. WE NEED
TO, YOU KNOW, BUILD DOWN THERE.
I MEAN, I GET THE WHOLE
INDUSTRIAL THING, BUT THAT'S
WHAT KENT AND AUBURN FOR.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. WE GROW,
WE PUSH THINGS OUT AND WE
DEVELOP, YOU KNOW, NEW WAYS OF
LIVING AND NEW IDEAS. ALSO, I
WOULD LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO
EITHER PUT LIKE AN AMENDMENT OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO NOT HAVE
TREES ON THE SIDEWALK WHEN THEY
BUILD NEW THINGS BECAUSE IN 20
OR 30 YEARS, WE GOT TO FIX ALL
THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT
ROANOKE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
GUYS EVER DRIVEN AROUND THERE,
BUT YOU BETTER HAVE AN SUV, YOU
KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? HAVE A
GOOD DAY. THANK YOU GUYS.
-- THANK YOU.
-- THAT WAS OUR LAST IN-PERSON
COMMENTER. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO
REMOTE COMMENTERS AND OUR ONLY
REMOTE COMMENTERS, DAVID HAYNES.
OKAY.
-- HI. THANK YOU, DAVID HAYNES.
WE NEED SOME LEADERSHIP WHEN IT
COMES TO TAKING AWAY THE SLUM
MOTELS AND THE VACANT BUILDINGS
TO EXPEDITE TEARING THEM DOWN
AND HAVING EXPERTS COME IN AND
CUT THE FOOTERS TO CREATE THE
FOUNDATIONS TO RAPIDLY BUILD
SOME MUCH NEEDED HOUSING ON A
MULTITUDE OF LEVELS OF CAPACITY.
YOU CAN HAVE ALL THESE EMERGENCY
HOTELS THAT WOULD REPLACE ALL
THOSE EVIL SLUM MOTELS, BUT WE
NEED SOME LEADERSHIP TO TAKE
AWAY THE VACANT BUILDINGS AND
INCENTIVIZE THROUGH PROPERTY TAX
DISCOUNTS. WORKING WITH THE
COUNTY AND OTHER IDEAS FOR SOME
WRITE OFFS, AND CONVINCE THE
BANKS TO LIKE, WRITE OFF SOME OF
THE DEBT TO SOME OF THESE
BUILDINGS STILL OWE BECAUSE WE
NEED SOME REAL HOUSING, BUT
PREFERABLY NOT ON THE SIDE OF
THE ROAD. THAT'S WHAT ALL OF
THIS LAND USE. YOU STILL HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND. WE NEED 21st
CENTURY, FIRST WORLD QUALITY
HOUSING. THAT'S PEDESTRIAN
CENTRIC, NOT CAR CENTRIC. IN THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S RESIDENT
FRIENDLY. THAT'S GREEN,
SUSTAINABLE, WALKABLE, WHERE
YOU'RE NOT WALKING ON THE SIDE
OF THE ROAD RAGE, YOU KNOW,
SOMEBODY KICKING UP THE TOXIC
SOOT OR THE STREET DUST. BUT
WHEN YOU HAVE A MIXED USE, YOU
STILL HAVE TO GIVE THE PEOPLE A
REPRIEVE AND GO HIGHER. WE GOT
TO TAKE THE RESTRICTIONS THAT
THE LANDLORDS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL AND THEIR SYMPATHIZERS
AND OPCD DOING THE BIDDING OF
SPECULATORS WHO OWN RUNDOWN REAL
ESTATE THAT ARE DOUBLE, TRIPLE,
QUADRUPLE OVERCHARGING RESIDENTS
AND BUSINESSES THAT ARE BEING
DRIVEN OUT OF BUSINESS AND
EVICTED BECAUSE THEIR DEBT
SERVICING A POLICE STATE ECONOMY
OF ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED,
DILAPIDATED REAL ESTATE. AND WE
NEED THAT 21st CENTURY, FIRST
WORLD QUALITY REDEVELOPMENT THAT
INVIGORATES WITH LIKE DOUBLE THE
SHIFTS, DOUBLE THE SHIFTS, BOOST
THE MORALE REBUILDING FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING TO BUILD
THE HOMES INSTEAD OF A NONPROFIT
UNQUALIFIED IN THE MIDDLEMEN
-- THANK YOU.
-- THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS.
-- OKAY., THANK YOU ALL., IS
THERE NO ADDITIONAL REGISTERED
SPEAKERS WILL NOW PROCEED TO OUR
ITEM OF BUSINESS ITEM ONE., WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA
ITEM ONE.
-- AGENDA ITEM ONE. CONSTABLE
ONE TWO. 1243. BILL RELATING TO
ZONING. ADOPTING TEMPORARY
REGULATIONS. PREVIOUSLY AN
ORDINANCE 12739 FOR SIX MONTHS.
EXEMPT HOUSING PROJECTS THAT
MEET MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS USING
ON SITE PERFORMANCE UNITS FROM
DESIGN REVIEW. ALLOWING
PERMANENT APPLICANTS FOR ALL
HOUSING SUBJECT TO FULL DESIGN
REVIEW. THE OPTION OF COMPLYING
WITH DESIGN REVIEW PURSUANT TO
ADMINISTRATIVE DESIGN REVIEW
TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING MANDATORY
AND ALLOWING VOLUNTARY DESIGN
REVIEW OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
UNTIL 2325 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE. CONSISTENT WITH
VARIOUS CHAPTERS OF ORDINANCE
ONE, TWO, SEVEN, THREE, NINE AND
AMENDING SECTION 23, 41, OH TWO
AND 23, 4104. SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE FOR PUBLIC HEARING,
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
-- OKAY. THANK YOU. AS PRESIDING
OFFICER, I'M NOW OPENING THE
PUBLIC HEARING ON COUNCIL BILL
ONE TWO, 1243 REGARDING THE
INTERIM DESIGN REVIEW
LEGISLATION. CLERK HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP FOR THIS
PUBLIC HEARING?
-- WE HAVE FIVE SPEAKERS SIGNED
UP, TWO IN PERSON, THREE REMOTE.
-- OKAY. EACH SPEAKER WILL BE
PROVIDED TWO MINUTES. CLERK I'LL
HAND THIS OVER TO YOU TO PRESENT
THE INSTRUCTIONS.
-- SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED THE
ORDER OF REGISTRATION. THE
PUBLIC HEARING REGISTRATION WILL
REMAIN OPEN UNTIL THE CONCLUSION
OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE SAME
PUBLIC COMMENT RULES APPLY TO
THIS PUBLIC HEARING. A TEN
SECOND TIME WILL BE YOUR NOTICE
THAT IT'S TIME TO WRAP UP
COMMENTS. SPEAKERS WILL BE MUTED
AT THE END OF THE ALLOTTED TIME.
PUBLIC COMMENT RELATING TO
ORDINANCE ONE, 21243. THE
INTERIM DESIGN REVIEW
LEGISLATION IS ONLY BEING
ACCEPTED AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO BEGIN
THEIR COMMENTS BY STATING THEIR
NAME. OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE
BILL ZOZO.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
BILL ZOZO. I LIVE IN THE CENTRAL
AREA AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON
THIS PARTICULAR LEGISLATION. OF
COURSE, I WORK, I PARTICIPATE
WITH A COUPLE OF GROUPS, THE
CENTRAL AREA LAND USE REVIEW
COMMITTEE AND A BROADER
COALITION. THAT IS WITH ALLIED
ARTS SPONSORING A PROGRAM
TONIGHT, A PANEL DISCUSSION,
WHICH I HOPE EVERYONE IN THIS
ROOM CAN ATTEND. AND I'M HERE
BECAUSE WE THINK THAT DESIGN
REVIEW IS IMPORTANT. AND WE
THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN
MORE IMPORTANT WHEN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS ADOPTED,
BECAUSE THERE WILL BE MORE
INTENSE DEVELOPMENT IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
USED TO IT. AND SO WE THINK THAT
DESIGN REVIEW CAN BE ONE TOOL
THAT CAN ACTUALLY MAKE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUILDING
OF NEW HOUSING, WHICH WE ALL
NEED. WORK MORE SMOOTHLY AND
ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO, TO
NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT WE ALL AGREE
THAT DESIGN REVIEW NEEDS TO BE
REFORMED. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZED IN
2022. AND NOW IT'S 2026. SO I
THINK ONE OF THE POINTS I WANT
TO MAKE IS THIS IS NOT THE FIRST
TIME THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND LAND USE HAS
ASKED FOR SIX MORE MONTHS, AND
WE FULLY EXPECT THAT SIX MORE
MONTHS WILL BE GIVEN. AND
THAT'S THAT, OF COURSE, WILL
HAPPEN. BUT IN THE SIX MONTHS,
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PROCESS
BE OPENED UP TO PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION WITH THE GROUPS
THAT I'VE WORKED WITH HAVE
TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IN
THE DOOR. LET US LET US TALK
WITH YOU. LET'S PARTICIPATE IN
THE DISCUSSION. AND BASICALLY,
WE'VE BEEN REBUFFED. OUR
REQUESTS HAVE BEEN EVADED. I
KNOW THAT ON JULY 1st, A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION
MADE A PRESENTATION REGARDING
THIS LEGISLATION, AND SHE SAID
THE DEPARTMENT WANTS PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION. SO WE WANT TO
HEAR THAT. THANKS.
-- THANK YOU
-- NEXT UP, WE HAVE ANDREA ECHO.
-- HELLO, I'M ANDREA ECHO. I'M
A LONGTIME DOWNTOWN RESIDENT,
BUT I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING
THE SOUTH COMMUNITY COUNCIL. THE
DESIGN REVIEW REBOOT COALITION
AND ALLIED ARTS SEATTLE. AND I
JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ALL OF
THESE GROUPS, WHICH I
PARTICIPATE IN ARE VERY EXCITED
ABOUT DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. AND IN FACT, WE, I
THINK, ALL HOPE THAT SEATTLE
WILL REALLY, REALLY SET A NEW
BENCHMARK IN TERMS OF THE
GLOBAL, IDENTITY OF WHAT A GREAT
URBAN ENVIRONMENT IS, WHAT THAT
MEANS FOR US IS THAT WE NEED TO
ESCALATE INVESTMENT IN OUR
INVENTORY. WE NEED TO BE, A
GREAT PLACE FOR DEVELOPERS TO
DEVELOP. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY,
WE FEEL IT ALSO REQUIRES A, A
QUALITY OUTCOME. AND PROBABLY
MOST IMPORTANT TO BE A WORLD
CLASS CITY. AND IN ORDER TO GET
TO THAT QUALITY OUTCOME, WE
FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IT'S
CRITICAL TO HAVE DESIGN REVIEW
AND COMMUNITY INPUT., THAT
DESIGN REVIEW IN OUR MINDS,
THERE ARE LOTS OF CREATIVE WAYS
THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THE REVIEW,
RESHAPING IT. AND IT DOESN'T
HAVE TO COMPROMISE THE SPEED
WITH WHICH PROJECTS ARE
IMPLEMENTED. WE FEEL THAT
THAT'S AN EXCUSE. SO, AS WAS
PREVIOUSLY PREVIOUSLY STATED,
THIS, THIS DISCUSSION HAS BEEN
GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF
DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEXT COUPLE
OF YEARS. WE REALLY WOULD LIKE
TO COME TO A BETTER CONCLUSION
ABOUT WHAT A SMART DESIGN
REVIEW, WHAT THE QUALIFIERS ARE,
WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND HOW THE
COMMUNITY COULD REALLY ENGAGE
EARLIER IN THE PROCESS. SO
AGAIN, IT DOESN'T HAVE A
NEGATIVE IMPACT.
-- THANK YOU.
-- THANKS.
-- THOSE ARE THE LAST IN-PERSON
SPEAKER. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR
FOUR REMOTE SPEAKERS, STARTING
WITH MEGAN CRUZ.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MEGAN
CRUZ, SPEAKING ON DESIGN REVIEW.
OF COURSE, AS THE CITY PREPARES
TO RENEW ITS MORATORIUM FOR
ANOTHER SIX MONTHS, THERE'S
REALLY BEEN NO INFORMATION ON
WHAT'S BEING DONE TO UPDATE THE
PROGRAM WHERE THE PROCESS STANDS
OR WHO IS BEING INVOLVED ACROSS
THE CITY FOR ALMOST A YEAR,
IT'S BEEN NOTED INDIVIDUALS AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS SUCH AS THE
DESIGN REVIEW REBOOT COALITION
AND ALLIED ARTS OF SEATTLE HAVE
MET WITH CITY STAFF AND
OFFICIALS ASKING FOR A SEAT AT
THE TABLE AS IT CREATES A NEW
AND BETTER PROGRAM BY CONVENING
A FORUM IN REAL TIME WITH
COMMUNITY REPS, DEVELOPERS AND
CITY PLANNERS, WE CAN CREATE A
BALANCED, PROGRAM FOCUSED ON
EARLY COMMUNICATION, RESPONSIVE
DESIGN AND EFFICIENCY. IT'S
POSSIBLE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER,
IT'S TIME TO RESET THE TABLE
AND THE NARRATIVE WHEN IT COMES
TO THIS VITAL PUBLIC PROCESS.
AND AS THE CITY EMBARKS ON
HISTORIC GROWTH, STANDING UP A
NEW PROGRAM SHOULD BE THE
PRIORITY. WITH ALL KEY PARTIES
AT THE TABLE. AND AS HAS BEEN
NOTED, A RELATED PANEL
DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD TONIGHT.
MONITORING MODERATED BY SALLY
BAGSHAW, TALKING ABOUT HOW TO
BUILD A BETTER CITY. IT'S BEING
HELD AT 630 AT PARK VIEW EVENT
SPACE IN SOUTH LAKE UNION.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
-- THANK YOU.
-- NEXT UP, WE HAVE TINA
BOUCHARD.
-- HI THERE TINA, DISTRICT
SEVEN. THANKS FOR LISTENING.
WHEN WE DISCUSS WHETHER TO
EXTEND THE DESIGN REVIEW
MORATORIUM, I BELIEVE THE MORE
IMPORTANT QUESTION IS WHAT DO WE
HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH DURING THAT
TIME? THIS TRANSITION PRESENTS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO THOUGHTFULLY
DEFINE THE NEXT CHAPTER OF
DESIGN REVIEW IN SEATTLE. IF
APPROACHED WITH INTENTION, IT
MAY PROVE TO BE ONE OF THE MOST
CONSEQUENTIAL PLANNING DECISIONS
WE MAKE, NOT BECAUSE IT DELAYS
CHANGE, BUT BECAUSE IT HELPS
ENSURE WE GET THE NEXT SYSTEM
RIGHT. SEATTLE IS EXPECTED TO
GROW SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE
COMING DECADES. THE BUILDINGS
APPROVED TODAY WILL SHAPE OUR
SKYLINE, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND
OUR DAILY LIVES OF RESIDENTS FOR
THE NEXT 50 TO 100 YEARS.
DECISIONS WITH THAT KIND OF
LASTING IMPACT DESERVE A PROCESS
THAT IS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED,
BROADLY INFORMED, AND BUILT TO
ENDURE. AN EXTENSION SHOULD
THEREFORE BE TIED TO CLEAR WORK
PLAN WITH DEFINED MILESTONES,
MEASURABLE OUTCOMES. IT SHOULD
BRING TOGETHER THE FULL SPECTRUM
OF STAKEHOLDERS, RESIDENTS OF
AFFORDABLE AND MARKET RATE,
HOUSING PROVIDERS, ARCHITECTS,
URBAN DESIGNERS, ACCESSIBILITY
ADVOCATES, ENVIRONMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS, NEIGHBORHOOD
ORGANIZATIONS, SMALL BUSINESSES,
AND OTHERS TO HELP DEFINE A
PROCESS THAT IS MORE
PREDICTABLE, MORE TRANSPARENT,
AND MORE RESPONSIVE TO
SEATTLE'S FUTURE. THE GOAL
SHOULD NOT BE TO RECREATE THE
OLD SYSTEM. THE GOAL SHOULD NOT
BE TO SLOW THE PRODUCTION OF
MUCH NEEDED HOUSING. THE GOAL
SHOULD BE TO BUILD A DESIGN
REVIEW PROCESS THAT ACHIEVES
THREE THINGS SIMULTANEOUSLY. IT
SUPPORTS HOUSING PRODUCTION,
CREATES GREATER CERTAINTY FOR
APPLICANTS, AND DELIVERS THE
QUALITY, LIVABILITY AND PUBLIC
CONFIDENCE THAT SEATTLE'S
NEIGHBORHOODS DESERVE. IF WE USE
THIS OPPORTUNITY WELL, THE
RESULT WON'T SIMPLY BE A NEW
DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS. IT WILL
BE A STRONGER FOUNDATION FOR HOW
SEATTLE GROWS FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU.
-- NEXT UP, WE HAVE GRACE BURKE.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS GRACE
AND I AM A DISTRICT FOUR
HOMEOWNER ON 36th AVENUE.
SPEAKING TODAY ON BILL 121243.
I'VE SUBMITTED WRITTEN PUBLIC
COMMENTS VIA EMAIL, AND I
STRONGLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO
STOP CONTINUALLY EXTENDING THE
INTERIM REGULATIONS THAT MAKE
THE DESIGN REVIEW VOLUNTARY FOR
MARKET RATE DEVELOPERS.
DEVELOPMENTS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR
I SUPPORT MORE HOUSING AND
SPECIFICALLY TRULY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. BUT REPLACING AN 800
000 SINGLE STORY HOME ON A
RESIDENTIAL STREET WITH THREE
THREE STORY UNITS THAT WILL SELL
FOR OVER $1 MILLION EACH IS NOT
SOLVING OUR CITY'S AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS. IT'S PURELY MAXIMIZING
PROFIT FOR DEVELOPERS AT THE
EXPENSE OF EXISTING
NEIGHBORHOODS. WHO ARE THE
CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU EACH
REPRESENT? THOSE OF US WHO
CURRENTLY LIVE HERE, RAISE
FAMILIES, PAY PROPERTY TAXES,
DESERVE CONSIDERATION TO AND
DURING THE RECENT SUBDIVISION
PUBLIC NOTICE PERIOD FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING ON OUR
STREET, ONE OF FOUR THAT'S
CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. THERE WERE
SEVEN SEPARATE COMMENTS THAT
WERE SUBMITTED BECAUSE IT WAS
LITERALLY THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY
WE HAD TO SHARE OUR INPUT AND
CONCERNS. I'VE REACHED OUT
MULTIPLE TIMES TO COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK OFFICE REQUESTING A
MEETING WITH YOU TO DISCUSS THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACTS, AND I WANT
TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME
WALK OUR BLOCK ON 36th AVENUE
NORTHEAST TO SEE FIRSTHAND WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN FOUR MULTI-UNIT
DEVELOPMENTS OPERATE
SIMULTANEOUSLY ON ONE STREET
WITH ZERO DESIGN REVIEW
OVERSIGHT, COMPLETELY
ELIMINATING MANDATORY DESIGN
REVIEW REMOVES THE ONLY FORMAL
CHECK TO ENSURE SENSIBLE HEIGHT
AND SETBACK TRANSITIONS BETWEEN
SINGLE STORY HOMES AND TOWERING
THREE STORY WALLS. THE
PROTECTION OF MATURE TIER TWO
TREES AND CRITICAL ROOT ZONES,
AND DESIGNS THAT RESPECT THE
STREETSCAPE. RATHER THAN JUST
PATTING DEVELOPER PROFIT
MARGINS. CONTINUING TO BYPASS
DESIGN REVIEWS DOESN'T CREATE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT JUST LETS
MARKET RATE DEVELOPERS BUILD TO
THE ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM FOOTPRINT
WITH ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY. I URGE
THE COUNCIL TO REJECT CB 121243
AND RESTORE MEANINGFUL,
PREDICTABLE DESIGN STANDARDS
THAT CONSIDER BOTH HOUSING NEEDS
AND EXISTING TAXPAYING
RESIDENTS. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU
-- LAST UP, WE HAVE DAVID
HAYNES.
-- WE STILL NEED AN
INVESTIGATION OF THE CONFLICTS
OF INTEREST WITH THE LANDLORDS
ON THE CITY COUNCIL, WHO ARE
SABOTAGING THE INTEGRITY OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ALL THE
LAND USE AND DESIGN REVIEWS
WHERE THE INTEGRITY OF OVERSIGHT
IS BEING TRADED OUT TO WATER
DOWN THE DESIGN REVIEW
EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM, WHO GOT
TO DECIDE THE FATE OF NOT
ALLOWING FOR THE MHA FEE FUND TO
BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ACTUAL REAL
DEVELOPERS WHO SHOULD HAVE HAD
THE RESTRICTIONS TAKEN OFF. THE
COMPREHENSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN TO BUILD HIGHER SO THAT
THEY COULD PUT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS INSIDE THE
BUILDING THAT NON-PROFITS DON'T
WANT BECAUSE THEY WANT THE
ACCESS TO THE FINANCIAL STREAM.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF
NON-PROFITS THAT GET JUMP START
MONEY, AND CITY COUNCIL MONEY
AND COUNTY COUNCIL MONEY, AND
THEY'RE THE SAME ONES THAT ARE
TRYING TO GET THE MHA FEE FUND
MONEY. BUT YET THERE ARE A BUNCH
OF SLUMLORDS BUILDING,
WAREHOUSE, ECHO, INNER CITY,
REAL ESTATE ON THE SIDE OF A
LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, TRANSIT
ORIENTED HIGHWAY AND THEN
PAINTING IT ALL IN RACISM,
ACTING LIKE THEY'RE DOING YOU A
AS A HAVE AND A HAVE NOT. THEY
THINK THEY'RE EQUALIZING, ALL
WHILE GUARANTEEING THAT NOTHING
WILL BE BUILT BACK BETTER
BECAUSE IT'S ALL LOW LEVEL, LOW
QUALITY, BECAUSE THE NONPROFITS
CAN'T BUILD THAT HIGH, EVEN
THOUGH THEY HAVE TO HIRE
SOMEBODY, THE NONPROFITS ARE THE
ONLY ONES GIVEN ACCESS TO THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING MONIES. THAT
LAW CHANGED BECAUSE CITY COUNCIL
WAS DOING THEIR POLITICAL
REELECTION APPARATUS, A FAVOR
THAT HIDES WITHIN THE HOUSING
CONSORTIUM DONATION NATION
COOPERATION, WHERE THE COUNCIL
WILL LOOK THE OTHER WAY ON ALL
THIS WATER DOWN WAREHOUSE ECHO,
INNER CITY SLUM, REAL ESTATE. AS
LONG AS THEY DON'T GET PROTESTED
THAT NOBODY'S TAKING OFF THE
RESTRICTIONS IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT THE CITY
COUNCILS LANDLORDS PUT INTO IT
THAT ARE STILL UNDERMINE THE
INTEGRITY OF THE 21st CENTURY
REDEVELOPMENT OF FIRST WORLD.
-- THANK YOU. DAVID.
-- CHAIR. THAT CONCLUDES THE
COMMENTERS.
-- OKAY. THAT WAS OUR LAST
REGISTERED SPEAKER TO PRESENT TO
SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING,
PUBLIC HEARING ON COUNCIL BILL
ONE TWO, ONE, TWO, FOUR, THREE
IS NOW CLOSED. WELL, OUR
REPRESENTATIVE FROM COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF, PLEASE JOIN US.
AND I SEE YOU AT THE TABLE. GO
AHEAD AND,, INTRODUCE YOURSELF
ONCE YOU'RE READY SURE.,
-- KETIL FREEMAN. COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
-- THANK YOU. KETIL., AND, I
THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO GO AHEAD
AND, PROCEED WITH, THE
PRESENTATION.
-- SURE.
-- WE CAN. JUST SO THAT WE ALL
HAVE A FRESH GROUNDING IN WHAT
THE BILL IS.
-- YEAH. SO, KETIL FREEMAN.
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF IS JUST
BRIEFLY GO THROUGH A
PRESENTATION,, A LOT OF WHICH
RECAPS WHAT WAS COVERED EARLIER
THIS MONTH. I'LL TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT WHAT THE BILL WOULD
DO, WOULD DO., REMIND THE
COMMITTEE ABOUT WHAT DESIGN
REVIEW IS., TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF
INTERIM CONTROLS HERE AND THEN
TALK ABOUT PROGRAM ACTIVITY
UNDER THOSE INTERIM CONTROLS.
AND THEN, RUN THROUGH SOME
PRELIMINARY ISSUE IDENTIFICATION
FOR THE COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER.
SO, FIRST OF ALL, WHAT WOULD
COUNCIL BILL ONE TWO, 1243 DO.
IT WOULD SUSPEND MANDATORY
DESIGN REVIEW. IT WOULD ALLOW
LOW INCOME HOUSING PROJECTS.
SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF DESIGN
REVIEW EXEMPT BUT EXEMPT THEM
FROM THE DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS.
IT WOULD ALLOW PROJECTS THAT ARE
SUBJECT TO MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY THAT SATISFY THE
OBLIGATIONS OF THAT PROGRAM
THROUGH ON SITE PERFORMANCE, TO
GAIN SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF
DESIGN REVIEW WITHOUT HAVING TO
GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM. AND IT
WOULD ALLOW ALL PROJECTS WITH
RESIDENTIAL USES THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE BE SUBJECT TO FULL
DESIGN REVIEW TO ELECT TO GO
THROUGH. ADMINISTRATIVE DESIGN
REVIEW. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
THINGS HERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND. I
WANT TO DISTINGUISH KIND OF,
INTERIM INTERIM CONTROLS FOR THE
DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM FROM THESE
EXEMPTIONS FROM DESIGN REVIEW.
AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THAT IN JUST A SECOND. AND
THEY LARGELY HAVE TO DO WITH THE
DELEGATION AND SORT OF HOW THEY
COMPLY WITH DESIGN REVIEW
PROGRAM PURPOSES., ONE THING
ABOUT THE BILL IS THAT IT'S NOT
ACTUALLY EXTENDING INTERIM
CONTROLS. IT'S REENACTING THEM.
SO THERE WERE SOME INTERIM
CONTROLS THAT WERE IN PLACE AND
THOSE CONTROLS LAPSED BACK IN
APRIL. AND SO AT THE MOMENT, WE
DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A DESIGN
REVIEW PROGRAM THAT COMPLIES
WITH 1293, WHICH IS A STATE LAW
THAT REQUIRES US TO MAKE SOME
CHANGES TO OUR DESIGN REVIEW
PROGRAM. IF WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE ONE. AND ALSO
SOME OF THE EXEMPTIONS FROM
DESIGN REVIEW FOR THE LARGELY
DESIGNED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PRODUCTION, ARE NO LONGER
ACTIVE., SO THE DESIGN REVIEW
PROGRAM, AS YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR
WITH IT, IT DATES BACK TO THE
1990s. IT HAS THREE PURPOSES.
UNDER THE INTERIM CONTROLS,
THERE'S ACTUALLY A FOURTH., BUT
THEY HAVE TO DO WITH ENCOURAGING
BETTER DESIGN AND SITE PLANNING,
PROVIDING FLEXIBILITY FOR
DEVELOPERS AND APPLICATION OF
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND
IMPROVING COMMUNICATION. SO
THERE'S DEFINITELY AN EARLY
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT
OF DESIGN REVIEW THAT'S BEEN
THERE SINCE THE BEGINNING. AND
IS DESIGNED TO SORT OF ENCOURAGE
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN DEVELOPERS
AND THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE
THREE TYPES OF THE FOURTH, I
GUESS THE FOURTH, PURPOSE THAT
WAS ADDED, BY FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. AND
BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LAPSED,
IT'S NO LONGER CURRENTLY PART
OF THE PROGRAM HAD TO DO WITH
SEPTET. SO ELEVATING COMMUNITY
POLICING THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL
DESIGN AS A, AS A PROGRAM
PURPOSE. THERE ARE THREE TYPES
OF DESIGN REVIEW, STREAMLINED
DESIGN REVIEW, ADMINISTRATIVE
DESIGN REVIEW AND FULL DESIGN
REVIEW. WHAT DISTINGUISHES THEM,
PRIMARILY IS THE LENGTH OF TIME
THEY TAKE. AND ALSO WHERE THE
DELEGATION TO WHOM THE
DELEGATION IS MADE TO MAKE
DECISIONS ABOUT,. COMPLIANCE
WITH OR ACHIEVING IDENTIFIED
DESIGN GUIDELINES AND GETTING
DEPARTURES. IF DEPARTURES ARE
SOUGHT BY DEVELOPMENT. SO ABOUT
DEPARTURES. SO ONE BENEFIT FOR A
DEVELOPER PARTICIPATING IN
DESIGN REVIEW IS THE POTENTIAL
TO GET DEVELOPMENT STANDARD
DEPARTURES. THOSE ARE
MODIFICATIONS TO DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS BASED ON, APPLICATION
OF CITY WIDE DESIGN GUIDELINES.,
THAT CAN, IN SOME, IN MANY
CASES, ALLOW A DEVELOPER TO
ACHIEVE ADDITIONAL FLOOR AREA.
SO MORE THAN THEY MIGHT
OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE
UNDER THE STANDARDS OF THE ZONE.
AND THERE'S, THIS IS SORT OF A
KEY THING HERE. AND IT HAS TO DO
WITH THE DELEGATION. SO WHAT THE
DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM DOES IS
IT'S A DELEGATION OF THE
COUNCIL'S POLICE POWER
AUTHORITY. AND THAT DELEGATION,
IS DONE THROUGH, GUIDANCE
PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL THROUGH
ADOPTED CITYWIDE DESIGN
GUIDELINES AND NEIGHBORHOOD
SPECIFIC DESIGN GUIDELINES. AND
THAT DELEGATION IS PROVIDED TO
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD FOR LARGER
PROJECTS AND ALSO TO THE SDCI
DIRECTOR FOR SMALLER PROJECTS.
SO I JUST WANT TO DISTINGUISH
THAT DELEGATION ASPECT HERE FOR
DESIGN REVIEW FROM THE
EXEMPTIONS FROM DESIGN REVIEW
THAT ARE ALSO WOULD BE SORT OF
PUT BACK ON THE BOOKS BY THIS
BILL., IN THE CASE OF, THE
EXEMPTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND ALSO FOR MHA PERFORMANCE
PROJECTS, THE DELEGATION THERE
DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO
WITH,, GOOD DESIGN PER SE. IT
HAS TO DO WITH MORE. SO MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT COULD BE
CREATED THROUGH, ADDITIONAL
FLOOR AREA, AND PROJECTS THAT
COULD ACHIEVE DESIGN DEPARTURES,
THROUGH THOSE EXEMPTION
PROCESSES. I KNOW THAT'S
SOMEWHAT ARCANE, BUT THERE'S A
DISTINCTION THERE. THIS IS NOT
NECESSARILY JUST AN EXTENSION OF
THE DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM
INTERIM CONTROLS. THIS IS ALSO
AN EXEMPTION WITH DIFFERENT
DELEGATIONS INVOLVED. SO A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE
HISTORY HERE. AND SOME OF THIS
ACTUALLY GOES GOES BACK PRIOR TO
2 TO 2023 DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE COUNCIL CHOSE TO EXEMPT LOW
INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
OUTRIGHT FROM DESIGN REVIEW. SO
IF A IF A DEVELOPER WAS NOT
SEEKING DEPARTURES, THEY
WEREN'T SUBJECT TO DESIGN
REVIEW AT ALL., IN 2023, THERE
ARE SOME CHOICES MADE BY THE
COUNCIL TO EXEMPT LOW INCOME
HOUSING PROJECTS FROM DESIGN
REVIEW, BUT ALLOW THEM THE
OPPORTUNITY OF GETTING
DEPARTURES IF THEY'RE PROVIDING
MORE FLOOR AREA FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AT THE SAME TIME, THE
COUNCIL ALSO EXEMPTED
PERFORMANCE PROJECTS UNDER MH
AYE FROM DESIGN REVIEW USING A
SIMILAR THEORY THAT IT WOULD
SPEED DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THROUGH PERFORMANCE.,
AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, THE
WRITING WAS ON THE WALL FOR
DESIGN REVIEW BACK THEN.,
ALLOWED MOST PROJECTS THAT HAD
RESIDENTIAL USES TO AVAIL
THEMSELVES OF ADMINISTRATIVE
DESIGN REVIEW AS OPPOSED TO
GOING TO FULL THROUGH FULL
DESIGN REVIEW. SO A SOMEWHAT
FASTER PROCESS, ALSO IN 2023,
THE STATE PASSED A LAW WHICH
SAID THAT IF YOU HAVE A DESIGN
REVIEW PROGRAM, IT HAS TO MEET
CERTAIN STANDARDS. AMONG THEM IS
A LIMITATION ON THE NUMBER OF
MEETINGS AND ALSO A REQUIREMENT
THAT, THAT THE PROGRAM HAVE
OBJECTIVE DESIGN GUIDELINES.,
THE CURRENT GUIDELINES THAT THE
CITY HAS, THE CITYWIDE DESIGN
GUIDELINES AND NEIGHBORHOOD
SPECIFIC DESIGN GUIDELINES
PROBABLY DON'T MEET THAT
OBJECTIVE STANDARD. SO, THERE'S
MORE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY HERE AS
WELL. THERE WAS A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT THE
COUNCIL PASSED IN 2022 THAT
REQUESTED A BUNCH OF
INFORMATION. YOU HAVE THAT,
ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA TODAY
THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL
IN 2024. SOME OF THAT
INFORMATION IS STILL VERY USEFUL
IN DECIDING WHAT A FUTURE DESIGN
REVIEW PROGRAM MAY LOOK LIKE. SO
THAT'S SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT
WHERE THE CITY COULD BE STARTING
FROM IN DECIDING WHAT A NEW
PROGRAM MAY LOOK LIKE AND 2025,
THE CITY EXTENDED THE EXEMPTIONS
THAT WERE INITIALLY PUT IN PLACE
IN 2023, AND ALSO SUSPENDED
MANDATORY DESIGN REVIEW. AND
THAT'S BECAUSE THE PROGRAM THAT
WE CURRENTLY HAVE LIKELY DOES
NOT COMPLY WITH HOUSE BILL 1293.
SO THERE'S SORT OF A CAVEAT
EMPTOR ASPECT HERE WHERE FOLKS
WANT TO PURSUE DESIGN REVIEW.
THEY CAN CHOOSE TO DO IT, BUT
THEY'RE, BUT THEY'RE NOT
REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH DESIGN
REVIEW. SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED
SINCE 2023?, PROJECTS HAVE STILL
CONTINUED TO GO THROUGH DESIGN
REVIEW AND WHAT'S NOT SORT OF
SHOWN HERE IS A DISTINCTION
BETWEEN 2023 AND 2025. MOST OF
THE PROJECTS HERE THAT YOU SEE
GOING THROUGH DESIGN REVIEW WERE
GOING THROUGH DESIGN REVIEW BACK
IN 2023, WHEN THE CITY ALLOWED
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE DESIGN REVIEW
IN 2025, WHEN THE CITY MADE MADE
DESIGN REVIEW ENTIRELY
VOLUNTARY, THERE HAVE BEEN FEWER
APPLICATIONS, BUT THERE STILL
HAVE BEEN APPLICATIONS. SO, A
FEW THINGS TO NOTE HERE. IF
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A PERFORMANCE
IN LOW INCOME HOUSING EXEMPT
PROJECTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S
STILL A LOT OF EVIDENCE THAT
THERE IS AN APPETITE FOR
DEPARTURES, MAYBE NOT
NECESSARILY THE DESIGN REVIEW
PROCESS, BUT FOR THE TYPES OF
DEPARTURES THAT ARE ONLY
AVAILABLE THROUGH DESIGN REVIEW.
ABSENT THE EXEMPTIONS THAT THE
CITY PUT ON THE BOOKS. SO JUST
SOME PRELIMINARY ISSUES HERE FOR
YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT., AND
THERE REALLY AREN'T ANY GOOD
SOLUTIONS HERE. THERE'S AN
APPETITE FOR, FOR DESIGN REVIEW
STILL. AND THE DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM IS
GOING TO LOOK LIKE., WE
CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A
DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM., BUT, IF
THE CITY WANTS TO HAVE A DESIGN
REVIEW PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE, WE
COULD CONTINUE TO HAVE A DESIGN
REVIEW PROGRAM. NOW THAT MAY
CREATE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE
WHEN A PERMANENT DESIGN REVIEW
PROGRAM IS PUT IN PLACE, BECAUSE
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROGRAM
PARAMETERS WILL BE LIKE FOR
DESIGN REVIEW IN THE FUTURE. BUT
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST
KIND OF THE NATURE OF INTERIM
CONTROLS., THERE'S A QUESTION
HERE. I'D DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
THE DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM
CHANGES AND THE EXEMPTIONS FROM
DESIGN REVIEW THAT ARE LARGELY
AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PRODUCTION. THERE A CHOICE HERE
FOR THE COUNCIL IS WHETHER OR
NOT TO CONTINUE THOSE
EXEMPTIONS. ONE THING TO THINK
ABOUT IN THE CONTEXT OF
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
IS THAT DESIGN REVIEW IS WHAT
FOLKS HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH IF
THEY ELECT TO NO LONGER PERFORM
UNDER MHA., SO THERE IS A FUTURE
WHERE THE COUNCIL MAY BE
CONSIDERING CHANGES TO MHA,
WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO DECIDE
ADMINISTRATIVELY WHAT TO DO WITH
THOSE PROJECTS IF THEY ARE
SEEKING SOME KIND OF A
REDUCTION, OR IF THERE'S SOME
REDUCTION THAT'S ON OFFER FROM
THE CITY., FINALLY, AND THIS IS
AN ADMINISTRATIVE THING, FOR
FULL DESIGN REVIEW. THERE ARE
EIGHT BOARDS THAT SERVE
DIFFERENT, AREAS OF THE CITY.,
MANY OF THE APPOINTEES TO THOSE
BOARDS HAVE, HAVE, ARE LIVING
ARE ON THOSE BOARDS PAST THEIR
TERM. AND MANY OF THOSE BOARDS
HAVE VACANCIES. SO ONE THING THE
COUNCIL MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IF
THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO EXTEND
THE INTERIM DESIGN REVIEW
INTERIM CONTROLS, IS STAFFING UP
THOSE BOARDS SO THAT IF SOMEBODY
ELECTS TO DO FULL DESIGN REVIEW,
THEY'LL BE CONTINUITY OF REVIEW
BY THOSE BOARDS. THAT'S IT.
THAT'S ALL I GOT FOR YOU.
-- OKAY. THANK YOU., COLLEAGUES,
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
OKAY., CHAIR. YES, PLEASE.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. AND
AS ALWAYS, WE REALLY APPRECIATE
THE, THE PRESENTATION. I JUST
WANTED TO GO BACK TO A COUPLE OF
THINGS. SO ONE IS THAT AS IS,
WE'RE CURRENTLY OUT OF
COMPLIANCE WITH 1293. IS THAT
CORRECT?
-- THAT'S CORRECT.
-- OKAY. AND THEN VOTING ON THIS
BILL TODAY ARE PASSING THIS BILL
AS WRITTEN WOULD BRING US BACK
INTO COMPLIANCE FOR THE THE
TEMPORARY, SIX MONTH PERIOD AS
CONTEMPLATED.
-- IT DOESN'T BRING US BACK
INTO COMPLIANCE WITH 1293, BUT
IT DOES PROVIDE A DESIGN REVIEW
PATHWAY FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
AVAIL THEMSELVES OF A DESIGN
REVIEW PROGRAM, EVEN ONE THAT'S
NOT A 1293 SORT OF COMPLIANT
PROGRAM. IF FOLKS DON'T WANT TO
GO THROUGH DESIGN REVIEW, THEY
DON'T HAVE TO, IF THEY ELECT TO
GO THROUGH DESIGN REVIEW, THEY
ARE ELECTING TO GO THROUGH A
PROGRAM THAT IS NOT 1293
COMPLIANT.
-- OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. SO WE
NEED FURTHER ACTION THERE.
CORRECT. AND THEN I JUST WANT TO
GO TO THE, ONE OF THE POINTS
THAT YOU WERE KIND OF CLOSING ON
THERE REGARDING, ON SITE
PERFORMANCE AND ANY POTENTIAL
ACTION OR CHANGES RELATED TO OUR
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
PROGRAM. SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT COUNCIL WOULD NEED TO
DETERMINE A PATH FORWARD FOR
PROJECTS, BUT THIS BILL WOULD
NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO A
POTENTIAL PATH FORWARD FOR
PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY
AVAILED THEMSELVES OF THAT
DESIGN REVIEW., EXEMPTION.
-- YEAH. SO THE, THE, THE WAY
THE THE LAW PREVIOUS PREVIOUSLY
WAS AND WHAT IT WOULD BE IF THIS
BILL PASSES AND IT WOULD ALLOW
THAT EXEMPTION. BUT STILL ALLOW
THOSE DEVELOPERS TO ELECT TO DO
TO PAY IF THEY WANT TO AT THE
END OF THE DAY, IF THOSE
DEVELOPERS ELECT TO PAY, THEY
HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH DESIGN
REVIEW. SO IF THE COUNCIL WANTS
TO SORT OF PRESERVE THAT OPTION,
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF
DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM ON THE
BOOKS. SO IF THE IF THE COUNCIL,
FOR EXAMPLE, DID NOT EXTEND THE
INTERIM DESIGN REVIEW CONTROLS,
THEN WE'D HAVE TO BE SORT OF
CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
WITH THOSE PROJECTS IF THEY, IF
THEY, IF THEY WANTED TO REVERT
FROM PERFORMANCE TO PAYMENT.
-- THAT'S RIGHT. AND THANK YOU
FOR THAT. AND THEN, BUT IF AS
WRITTEN, IF THIS BILL PASSES, WE
WOULD BE, PROVIDING THAT PATHWAY
WOULD BE AVAILABLE, WE'D HAVE
THAT CLEAR DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS
OR PATHWAY, BUT WE WOULD STILL
NEED TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON
ANY CHANGES. IF SOMEBODY WERE TO
WANT TO SWITCH FROM PERFORMANCE
TO PAYMENT. IS THAT CORRECT.
-- THAT'S CORRECT.
-- YEAH. THANK YOU. THOSE ARE MY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU. AND, OBVIOUSLY WE
GOT A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT SORT
OF THE LONG TERM WORK ON DESIGN
REVIEW. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT
WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON, BUT OR,
YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE, OTHER
DEPARTMENTS, BUT ANY, ANYTHING
THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO SHARE WITH
THE PUBLIC.
-- SORT OF EXPLAIN MY
UNDERSTANDING. AND CRYSTAL
TORRES FROM SDCI IS HERE AND SHE
MAY BE ABLE TO CHIME IN HERE AS
WELL., BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT, SDCI IS VERY CLOSE TO
HAVING A PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE
ABOUT TO MAKE PUBLIC TOWARDS THE
END OF THE HERALD
ADMINISTRATION., THERE HAS SINCE
BEEN OBVIOUSLY A TRANSITION AND
NEW MAYOR AND THAT I BELIEVE THE
CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS YET TO
ENGAGE ON PROGRAM PARAMETERS.,
SDCI HAS FUNDING TO BEGIN
OUTREACH. AND THAT COULD BEGIN
EARLY THIS YEAR. IT'S LIKELY
THAT THAT OUTREACH WILL, WILL
REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL WILL TAKE
ENOUGH TIME., AND THAT WOULD BE
OUTREACH WOULD BE ON PROGRAM
DESIGN AND ALSO, A REVISED
CITYWIDE DESIGN GUIDELINES. IT
WOULD TAKE ENOUGH TIME THAT THE
COUNCIL WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO
CONSIDER ANOTHER EXTENSION.,
WITHIN THAT SIX MONTHS FROM NOW,
WHICH WOULD BE IN EARLY 2027.
BUT ESSENTIALLY, I THINK THE,
THE, THE FUNDING IS IN PLACE. IT
WOULD ACTUALLY, THE COLOR OF
MONEY WAS SOMETHING THAT I
INQUIRED ABOUT IT'S CONSTRUCTION
INSPECTIONS FUND MONEY. SO IT'S
NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT
NEEDS TO BE FUNDED OUT OF THE
GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS
BECAUSE THEY'LL BE COMPETING
PRIORITIES FOR GENERAL FUND
MONEY. AS PART OF THE 2027
BUDGET DELIBERATIONS., AND IT'S
REALLY JUST A QUESTION OF, OF,
GUIDANCE FROM THE COUNCIL AND
THE CURRENT MAYOR ABOUT WHAT THE
PROGRAM SHOULD LOOK LIKE. AND
THEN, GETTING THE CONTRACTS IN
PLACE TO BEGIN EXECUTING THEM.
-- WONDERFUL. THANK, THANK YOU
SO MUCH. HELPFUL TO GET THAT
UPDATE. AND, ANY OTHER
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS OKAY., WELL,
COLLEAGUES, I, IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND
THE RULES TO ALLOW A VOTE ON THE
BILL ON THE SAME DAY THE PUBLIC
HEARING IS HELD., I JUST WANT TO
SEE IF THERE'S HEARING NO
OBJECTION. THE RULE IS
SUSPENDED, AND I'D LIKE TO
PROCEED WITH A COMMITTEE VOTE ON
THIS BILL., I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL ONE TWO, 1243. IS
THERE A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- OKAY. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
THE LEGISLATION., DO ANY OF MY
FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS WISH TO
ADDRESS THE LEGISLATION I'LL
JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT THAT,
I DO THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE
I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE PERMANENT
LEGISLATION, BUT I DO THINK THIS
TEMPORARY LEGISLATION IS USEFUL,
PARTICULARLY FOR, FOR FOLKS THAT
NEED, SOME OF THAT, THE,
DEPARTURES., AND SO I DO THINK
IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE SOMETHING
IN PLACE. AND SO, I WOULD LIKE
TO URGE PEOPLE TO, TO VOTE YES
ON PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL ONE,
TWO, ONE, TWO, FOUR, THREE. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON RECOMMENDATION?
-- VICE CHAIR STRAUSS AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. YES.
CHAIR LIN.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR FOUR VOTES IN FAVOR AND
ZERO OPPOSED.
-- OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. THE
COUNCIL BILL PASS THE BILL, WILL
BE SENT TO AUGUST 4th, 2026.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE'VE
REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
MEETING AGENDA. IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE? BEFORE WE ADJOURN
OKAY. HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT
2:44 P.M.. THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
-- [MUSIC] [MUSIC]