2023-12-11 Architectural Design Board MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN BOARD
Minutes of Special Meeting
December 11, 2023
Chair Bayer called the hybrid meeting of the Architectural Design Board to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Brackett
Room at City Hall, 121— 5th Avenue North, Edmonds, Washington.
Board Members Present
Kim Bayer, Chair
Joe Herr
Lauri Strauss (online)
Maurine Jeude
Board Members Absent
Alexa Brooks, Vice Chair
Corbitt Loch
Steve Schmitz
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The agenda was approved as presented.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
September 28, 2023 ADB Meeting Minutes
Staff Present
Mike Clugston, Senior Planner
MOTION MADE BY BOARD MEMBER STRAUSS, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER JEUDE,
TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Design Review after House Bill 1293
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Senior Planner Clugston commented on the scope of changes they will need to take a look at over the next 18
months as a result of House Bill 1293. Changes need to be adopted by July of 2025. He summarized that design
standards must be clear and objective, and the ADB can only have one meeting. The Department of Commerce
is supposed to come out with some guidance on this in early 2024. He requested feedback from the Board on
the pros and cons of Edmonds' current design review standards.
Board Member Strauss said she was glad they were getting rid of the two -meeting process. She was always
disappointed in the checklist that they had to do at the end of the first meeting. It's too vague, too long, and
redundant.
Board Member Herr commented that it will be a challenge to do what they did in a couple meetings in only one
meeting. Typically, they ask people to come back with something, but they will not be able to do that. The
guidelines will have to be very clear, concise, and articulate to make it work. Their only option will be to approve
or not approve it. He agreed that the checklist was not very helpful. He wondered how all this will impact then
large development the City Council recently approved on Highway 99.
Board Member Jeude agreed that almost every project has met the guidelines, and yet they weren't anywhere
near what they wanted to see. It will be frustrating to not be able to have the back -and -forth process in order to
get a high -quality project for the community. Under the new regulations, if a project meets the minimum
guidelines, it will pass. Mr. Clugston agreed that it will be a challenge to have standards that will get what they
want.
Chair Bayer agreed that the checklist needs to go. She asked what they will do with projects between now and
when the new standards are adopted. Mr. Clugston explained that they will continue with the two-phase process
and the checklist until that is eliminated from chapter 20.12. Chair Bayer expressed concern that going down to
one meeting will reduce public input. She recommended considering ways to allow additional public input
throughout the process. Board Member Strauss noted that there is an optional pre -application meeting that
developers can have. She thought the idea behind the house bill is to speed things up because of how long it
takes in some jurisdictions. She recommended maybe more advance notice for the public hearing to allow more
time for the public to be informed.
Chair Bayer asked for clarification about what they have control over with the new standards. She expressed
concern about the lack of staff and resources to be able to meet and affect change. Mr. Clugston acknowledged
the challenges. Board Member Strauss recommended that in the meantime, the ADB should tackle one design
topic at a time and try to write up some recommendations. Mr. Clugston noted that if they meet as a
subcommittee, a staff member wouldn't need to be present. This may be a good idea because of limited staff
resources. Chair Bayer asked about opportunities for some joint meetings with the Planning Board in order to
be more efficient. Mr. Clugston thought they would pursing parallel paths on similar topics, but not necessarily
the same topics. The ADB will be largely focused on the design review part of it while the Planning Board will
be focused on the middle housing aspect. There might be a need for a joint meeting in the spring. He thought
that a subcommittee could take a look at design standards for the BD zone, multifamily, and some sub areas
and report back to the larger group. Board Member Strauss concurred that it would be good to have a
recommendation in hand to take to the Planning Board when they meet.
Board Member Herr recommended prioritizing their work on the middle housing and Highway 99 subarea.
ADU standards would be easy to adapt from other cities' codes. He expressed concern that the public input
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won't carry any weight with the one -meeting process. Mr. Clugston pointed out that the one -meeting process is
something they don't have any control over.
Board Member Strauss recommended setting priorities for what they want to cover at the next week and
assigning the work to subcommittees. If they only have one public meeting, and they want to make sure the
projects look good, they need to focus on what they want the design guidelines to be.
Board Member Jeude commented that it seemed like the Comprehensive Plan and the design guidelines didn't
always match. She spoke to the importance of having alignment between these. Mr. Clugston gave a high-level
update on the current Comprehensive Plan update process. He thought that the Planning Board would start
looking at individual elements in early 2024.
Board Member Strauss asked who is responsible for coordinating the Comprehensive Plan with the design
guidelines. Mr. Clugston noted that there is a Community and Cultural Design element. He doesn't know when
that will be worked on, but it would be good to have the consultant come to the ADB when that element is being
reviewed. He will keep an eye out for that particular element.
Election of Officers for 2024 - Continued to January
Appreciation of Lauri Strauss and Joe Herr's service on the ADB
Chair Bayer expressed appreciation to Board Member Strauss and Board Member Herr for their hard work,
professional input, talents, and time served on the ADB. Board Member Herr commented on the importance of
recognizing members for their service. He wondered if they generally do a notice in The Beacon for departing
members. Mr. Clugston agreed that it was important but wasn't sure how the Mayor's office handles it. Mr.
Clugston presented gifts to the two departing members.
Board Member Strauss expressed appreciation to Board Member Herr for the back -and -forth dialogs that they
have had over the year which have had positive results for the community. Board Member Herr concurred.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mr. Clugston gave an update on the 16-lot PRD on Edmonds Way. Board Member Herr said it would be nice
to get updates on projects they have approved. There was some discussion about the status of various projects.
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Chair Bayer thanked everyone for the meeting and wished Board Members Herr and Strauss well.
MEMBER COMMENTS
Board Member Strauss encouraged the Board to keep up the good work.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
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