The council finds that due to the size, bulk and height of many multiple-family residential and nonresidential developments, it is necessary to ensure that the designs thereof make the most efficient use of available resources and harmonize with existing and proposed residential development, as well as with existing development of like character. (Ord. 831 § 1 (part), 2000).

A. Except as provided in subsection B below, no building permit shall be issued for the construction of any new building, structure or permanent sign or for the exterior alteration or remodeling of any existing building or structure unless and until the design of the proposed construction, alteration, or remodeling has been approved under this chapter.
B. Design review under this chapter shall not be required for the construction or exterior alteration or remodeling of single-family dwellings and associated accessory structures, except on lots that are less than six thousand square feet in area that are not located in the R1-5 zoning district, unless design review is made a condition of approval of a project or structure.
C. The city council may further define, by resolution, the type of building activity subject to or exempt from design review under this chapter. (Ord. 927 § 2, 2008: Ord. 831 § 1 (part), 2000).

A. There is created the design review board of the city.
B. The planning commission is designated the design review board of the city. (Ord. 831 § 1 (part), 2000).

The design review board shall:
A. Conduct hearings and take action on design review applications in accordance with this chapter, the general plan, and all other applicable rules, regulations and policies enacted by the council;
B. Establish design guidelines for multiple-family residential and nonresidential development consistent with this chapter, the general plan and all other applicable rules, regulations and policies enacted by the council;
C. Recommend the creation of special districts or areas within the city for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing the character thereof, and recommending architectural standards to be applied therein;
D. Perform such other duties as the council may prescribe from time to time. (Ord. 831 § 1 (part), 2000).

A. Application for consideration by the design review board shall be made to the planning director. Such application shall include the following information:
1. Existing topography, structures, trees and other features of the land to be developed;
2. A preliminary grading and drainage plan. When the grading plan is revised after the building permit and grading plan have been considered and approved by the design review board, the revised plan shall be filed with the planning director and shall be subject to the same decision making process and findings and requirements as the original application, except that the subsequent consideration and decision shall be limited to the revised grading plan and the effects of the revisions on the originally approved project;
3. A site plan which shows:
a. Location of proposed building(s), adjoining streets,
b. The size and location of all public utility easements,
c. The exact location and width of all streets, sidewalks, bike trails, pedestrian paths or other areas used for the conveyance of vehicular, pedestrian, bicycles, equestrian or other traffic,
d. The location of parking areas,
e. The number of units per gross acre,
f. The location and size of private parks or recreation area,
g. Location of light poles,
h. Location of all freestanding signs,
i. The location and screening of refuse disposal area,
j. Location of driveways,
k. The location and size of all fencing or screening,
l. A designation of the use of all open space (whether publicly or privately owned) and the person or group responsible for its maintenance,

m. Contour lines at intervals designated by the city engineer;
4. Architectural elevations and renditions of all buildings, signs, walls and fences and other structures, including materials to be used and color schemes;
5. Project signage, including the location, dimensions, illumination and lettering style of all signs;
6. A landscape plan, including the location, type, quantity and size of plant materials to be used;
7. Such other information as the director may require.
B. When a project subject to design review also requires a discretionary permit, or modification thereof, under Chapter 17.70, the design review application shall be made, processed and heard simultaneously with the other discretionary permit, unless this requirement is waived by the planning director. (Ord. 831 § 1 (part), 2000).

A public hearing on the application shall be conducted by the design review board and, for those applications described in Section 17.72.070B, by the council. Notice of hearing shall be given not less than ten days prior to the hearing by mail to the owners of property within a six-hundred-foot radius of the project site. (Ord. 831 § 1 (part), 2000).

A. Except as provided in subsection B below, at the conclusion of the hearing the design review board shall approve, approve with conditions or deny the application.
B. At the conclusion of the hearing, the design review board shall make a recommendation to the council, and the council shall thereafter conduct a hearing on and approve, approve with conditions, or deny any application for design review for the following:
1. Nonresidential buildings or groups of buildings on one parcel in any zone with gross square footage of one hundred fifty thousand square feet or more;
2. Residential buildings with a height of greater than thirty feet, or with more than two stories;
3. Nonresidential buildings or structures with a height of greater than forty feet, or with more than three stories;
4. All uses listed as M-2 zone conditional uses in Section 17.56.020, except retail sales and personal service establishments and service stations;
5. Surface mining and quarrying operations;
6. Special uses listed in Section 17.64.010;
7. Waiver of locational provisions for adult entertainment businesses under Section 17.79.040; and
8. Any application for a design review which is filed and/or is to be heard contemporaneously with another application for a land use entitlement for which the council is the final decisionmaking body.
C. Any decision by the design review board or the council on a design review application shall be based on consideration of the following:
1. Relationship between the site design and the surrounding development, natural features and constraints and traffic flow;
2. Height, bulk and area;
3. Orientation of buildings and structures (with emphasis on energy consumption for heating, cooling, lighting);
4. Color scheme and materials;
5. Style, type and orientation of lighting;
6. Dimensions and placement of signs and graphics;
7. Landscaping (with emphasis on aesthetics, use of water and maintenance needs);
8. Parking design, including ingress and egress patterns;
9. Other design review criteria, which may be adopted from time to time by resolution of the council.
D. The design review board and council shall set forth in writing the findings of fact upon which its respective decision is based.
E. Appeals of decisions of the design review board shall be governed by Chapter 17.86. (Ord. 831 § 1 (part), 2000).

Unless a different time period is prescribed by the board, a design review approval shall expire two years from the effective date of this approval, unless the rights conferred thereby have commenced to be exercised within that period. (Ord. 831 § 1 (part), 2000).