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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 Architectural Design Board Meeting Minutes of Special Meeting Decemberl 1, 2023 Pagel of 3 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 Architectural Design Board Meeting Minutes of Special Meeting Decemberl 1, 2023 Page 2 of 3 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. .. I. 1 UIUI L 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. Architectural Design Board Meeting Minutes of Special Meeting Decemberl 1, 2023 Page 3 of 3