Chapter 2.29
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD*
Sections:
2.29.010 Design review board created.
2.29.020 Authority and duties.
2.29.030 Appointments and qualifications.
2.29.040 Term of office.
2.29.050 Vacancies.
2.29.060 Removal.
2.29.070 Rules.
2.29.080 Staff services.
2.29.090 Voting.
2.29.100 Conflict of interest.
2.29.110 Appeals of design review board decisions.
2.29.120 Content of appeal.
* Code reviser’s note: Ord. 2854 added these provisions as Chapter 2.30 PMC. They have been renumbered to avoid duplication of numbering.
2.29.010 Design review board created.
There is hereby created a design review board. (Ord. 2854 § 1, 2006).
2.29.020 Authority and duties.
(1) The design review board shall review all applications requiring building permits within the following categories, as set forth in the Downtown Design Guidelines:
(a) Construction of new buildings that are 10,000 square feet and greater, either before or after construction in the CBD-Core and CBD zones (see the Downtown Design Guidelines “Large Projects” Category);
(b) New additions and/or renovation projects of historic structures, which are defined as buildings constructed prior to 1946, in the CBD-Core and CBD zones (see the Downtown Design Guidelines “Historic Properties” Category);
(c) Parking garage structures and/or renovation projects of parking garages of any size, stand-alone or integral, in the CBD-Core, CBD zones (see the Downtown Design Guidelines “Parking Structures” Category);
(d) Qualifying transition area projects in areas of the CBD and CBD-Core that either directly abut or are across the street from a residential land use zone (except the RM-Core zone) and any site on an historic register, in the CBD-Core and CBD zones, except for small projects as defined by the Downtown Design Guidelines (see the Downtown Design Guidelines “Transition Areas” Category); or
(e) Other projects or duties as assigned by the city council.
(2) The design review board’s review of an application shall be in accordance with the Downtown Design Guidelines as adopted in PMC 20.30.003.
(3) The design review board may approve, approve with conditions, or deny proposed project designs. Approval with conditions may involve tentative approval, subject to the applicant returning to the design review board with corrections, or final approval subject to the applicant incorporating conditions into final plans for city staff signature and approval. In the instances of denial, the design review board shall adopt specific findings, including recommended corrections to address deficiencies.
(4) The design review board’s conditions and comments shall be incorporated into the city’s development review conditions letters and be binding upon the project, and, where applicable, SEPA determinations and hearing examiner decisions for the respective projects. (Ord. 2854 § 1, 2006).
2.29.030 Appointments and qualifications.
(1) The design review board shall consist of seven members who shall be appointed by the city manager and confirmed by a majority vote of the city council and shall consist of the following:
(a) At least two members shall be registered architects;
(b) At least two members shall be directly associated with applicable construction trades (e.g., contractor, structural engineer, developer); and
(c) The other members shall either be associated with local interest groups (e.g., downtown merchant and/or property owner, arts group) or related land use/design discipline (e.g., realtor, historic preservation specialist).
(2) A majority of the members of the design review board shall reside in the city of Puyallup.
(3) Members of the design review board shall be considered volunteers and not employees of the city and shall serve without compensation. (Ord. 2854 § 1, 2006).
2.29.040 Term of office.
The term of office of the seven commissioners shall be three years and staggered in such a manner that the terms of four commissioners shall expire in even-numbered years and the terms of three commissioners shall expire in odd-numbered years. (Ord. 2854 § 1, 2006).
2.29.050 Vacancies.
Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as initial appointments and members appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the duration of the unexpired term. (Ord. 2854 § 1, 2006).
2.29.060 Removal.
Any member of the design review board may be removed for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance. Removal proceedings may be initiated by the city manager or the city council. A simple majority vote of the council is required for removal for the above reasons. When a member misses three consecutive meetings and is not excused by a majority vote of the design review board, the position may be declared vacant by the city manager. (Ord. 2854 § 1, 2006).
2.29.070 Rules.
The design review board shall adopt rules for the transaction of its business. The rules shall provide for but are not to be limited to the date, time, place and format of regular meetings. Provision shall be made for a record of proceedings, reports, studies, findings, conclusions and recommendations. The rules shall provide for the election of a chairman of the design review board and vice chairman for a one-year term each. The rules shall provide that the meetings of the design review board shall be open to the public but that no special notice of the meetings need be given nor shall such meetings be public hearings although nothing shall prohibit the design review board from soliciting explanations and additional input from the applicant or applicant’s representatives and such other sources as the design review board deems necessary to enable them to complete their review of the application. (Ord. 2854 § 1, 2006).
2.29.080 Staff services.
The city manager shall be responsible for the general administration of the design review board and may request staff services from other city departments. (Ord. 2854 § 1, 2006).
2.29.090 Voting.
The decisions of the design review board shall be made by a majority vote of the quorum present at the time of decision. A majority of the appointed members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, that at least four shall be required to constitute a quorum excluding any disqualifications. Any number less than a quorum shall be authorized to convene a meeting at the time set and to adjourn, recess or continue a regular or special meeting to a date and time certain. (Ord. 2854 § 1, 2006).
2.29.100 Conflict of interest.
The design review board members shall be subject to the code of ethics as set forth in Chapter 35A.42 RCW, prohibitions on conflict of interest as set forth in Chapter 42.23 RCW, and the appearance of fairness doctrine as set forth in Chapter 42.36 RCW, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended. (Ord. 2854 § 1, 2006).
2.29.110 Appeals of design review board decisions.
Appeals of design review board decisions shall be to the city council. Appeals shall be filed with the city clerk within 10 calendar days after the date of the design review board’s decision. Only the applicant or the applicant’s representative has authority to appeal a decision of the design review board. (Ord. 2854 § 1, 2006).
2.29.120 Content of appeal.
An appeal shall not be accepted unless it is written, accompanied by the required appeal fee, as established by the city manager, and contains at least the following information:
(1) Appellant’s name, address and phone number;
(2) Appellant’s statement describing his or her standing, as the applicant or applicant’s representative authorized to appeal;
(3) Identification of the application which is the subject of the appeal;
(4) Statement of grounds for appeal and the facts upon which the appeal is based;
(5) Statement of the relief sought, including the specific nature and extent; and
(6) A statement that the appellant has read the appeal and believes the contents to be true, followed by the appellant’s signature. (Ord. 2854 § 1, 2006).