Questions on the Design Review Board (DRB)

(By way of explanation….The history of the DRB has been a bit rocky, and it's on-again, off-again, then on-again presence in Sultan, and its application in a "real life" setting in Sultan has been inconsistent, to say the least. The discrepancies in the code itself and how it has been applied under Rick Cisar's hand, absolutely require resolution, else its misapplication, and protests arising from same, will grow, along with potential lawsuits from disgruntled citizens and/or developers. Below are excerpts from the code, which would seem to contradict comments made during Sultan's February 9, 2005 council meeting by Rick Cisar.

At a minimum, appointments to the DRB by the mayor, and the council's approval, require immediate administrative action; i.e. current members need to be reappointed and approved, as specified in the code, with staggered term expirations. The current DRB members began serving their terms in approximately mid-2000, but were re-approved mid-June, 2004 for four-year terms. This means all terms will expire simultaneously in 2008, which is contrary to the code, which assumes that any subsequent four-year term of a board member, will also be staggered. However, the meeting minutes indicate all board members were approved for an additional four-year term, the approval/effective date of which would be June of 2004, and apply to all three members.)

2.20.010 Design review board members and qualifications.

There is created a design review board for the city that shall have the powers, duties, and functions as provided in this chapter. The design review board shall consist of a minimum of three and a maximum of five members. All members shall be appointed by the mayor with confirmation of the city council. In making appointments to the board, the appointing authority shall appoint persons who are knowledgeable in matters of design and aesthetic judgment by virtue of training, education, and/or experience, who possess qualities of impartiality and broad judgment, and an ability to review two-dimensional plans. Desired qualifications for board members include an expertise in the fields of architecture, history, landscape architecture, engineering and graphic, interior, and industrial design. The membership of the board should include at least one architect. (Ord. 727-00)

2.20.020 Terms and compensation.

The initial appointment of members to the board shall be for the following respective terms: one for two years, one for three years, and remaining member(s) for four years. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for a term of four years. A person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Members shall serve without compensation. (Ord. 727-00)

2.20.050 Purpose.

In addition to the general purposes of the comprehensive plan and the unified development code, this chapter is included for the following purposes:

A. To assure that developments within the residential districts, commercial districts, the downtown core and projects within the economic development and highway-oriented zones are consistent with the city of Sultan urban design standards (UDS).

B. To make suggestions on design alternatives which meet the needs of the property or business owner which are consistent with and meet the intent of the city’s UDS.

C. To make recommendations to the planning commission and city council on policies and ordinances that may affect the city’s design and visual character.

D. To make recommendations of approval with conditions or disapproval for proposed designs of development projects within the residential districts, commercial district, downtown core and commercial projects within the economic development and highway oriented zones.

E. To make recommendations to the hearing examiner, city staff, city council and other approving body on other design matters, as may be referred to the design review board by the city council, pertaining to the appearance of the city. (Ord. 727-00)

2.20.060 Applicability.

The design review board shall review all development in urban center (UC), highway-oriented development (HOD), economic development (ED) zoning districts, multifamily developments and neighborhood commercial developments (see note below) in residential zones. For the purposes of this chapter, "development" means any improvement to real property open to exterior view, including but not limited to buildings, structures, fixtures, landscaping, site screening, parking lots, lighting, pedestrian facilities, street furniture, use of open space areas (including parks, junk yards, riding academies, kennels, and recreational facilities), mobile homes and trailer parks, whether all or any are publicly or privately sponsored. Development does not include underground utilities or signs. (Ord. 806-03 § 2)

G.R.I.T. Note: Is a "government" or quasi-government multi-use new construction (i.e., the VOA building on First Street) considered "commercial" development? Not by a strict definition of the SMC, as it currently stands. It is clear, however, that this code was meant to be as resident- and citizen-friendly as possible, to ensure a desirable esthetic atmosphere in the city, especially in neighborhood residential environments.