Design Commission debates retooling its role after density-bonus changes

The Design Commission spent the meeting weighing how to redefine its purpose after recent changes removed a key discretionary review role from its code duties.

Commissioner (Speaker 3) said the commission previously “did not do a design review, but make a recommendation to staff around downtown density bonus programs and whether they substantially comply,” and argued that with that tool gone the commission must find new ways to influence urban design. The commissioner urged retooling the body to play an active advisory role on regulating plans, small-area planning and capital projects.

The discussion centered on using the existing Urban Design Guidelines Working Group to draft clear language and a work plan that could be forwarded to the Audit and Finance Committee and, if warranted, to the City Council for ordinance-level changes. Staff clarified that changing the commission’s charter language would require council action and referenced prior ordinance renumbering done in December 2017.

Commissioners said they wanted the working group to produce a concrete scope, identify the types of projects the commission should review, and clarify how the commission would collaborate with other advisory bodies such as the Urban Transportation Commission. Commissioner (Speaker 5) suggested the working group could also format recommendations in an ordinance-ready way to reduce downstream legal and drafting work.

The commission did not vote to change its charter at the meeting; instead members agreed to authorize the working group to meet, develop a scoped draft of recommended changes and report back so the full commission could decide whether to move the item forward to Audit and Finance and the Council.

The commission adjourned after agreeing to continue the conversation in August as the working group advances its deliverables.