Section 1313. Design and standards alternatives.
A. Applicability. The Design Review Committee (DRC) shall oversee and approve design alternatives and standards appeals beyond the scope of Planning and Development Department (PDD) Director or designee approval as per Section 1313.B.
A design alternative is a deviation from the WU Code standards and design guidelines that results in a furtherance of the goals for an urban pedestrian environment. Design alternatives shall demonstrate conformance with the intent of the WU Code and in general conformance with the Conceptual Master Plans and policies contained within Transit Oriented District Policy Plans.
B. Standards.
1. Uses and height requirements may not be modified by PDD staff as part of site plan review or through the DRC appeal process.
2. The maximum combined PDD staff and/or DRC modifications shall not exceed 35 percent.
C. Planning and Development Department staff may modify standards and design guidelines to accommodate existing conditions or as a design alternative, as follows:
1. Up to 20 percent from the prescribed standards for minimum/maximum setbacks; lot coverage; landscaping; and parking requirements.
2. Glazing and blank wall treatments may be modified by 15 percent.
3. Substitute methods of meeting the intent for frontage types may be approved in consultation with the PDD Planning Director or his/her designee.
4. PDD staff shall document the site specific justification for the design alternative(s) approval as part of the final site plan approval.
5. If design alternative cannot be approved by staff, the applicant may file an appeal with the Design Review Committee.
D. The following may be modified by the DRC as design alternatives:
1. Up to 35 percent for minimum/maximum setbacks; lot coverage; landscaping; parking; and glazing and blank wall alternatives.
2. Substitute methods of meeting the intent for frontage types.
3. A design alternative shall be reviewed and acted upon by the DRC in accordance with the procedural requirements of Section 507.
a. An approval from the DRC shall be included on the final site plan. (Ord. No. G-6047, 2015; Ord. No. G-6962, § 15, 2022)