Project Status: Completed
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has sent a proposal to the City Council for a new Administrative Design Review process to apply to townhouse development. Currently, most townhouses do not undergo design review, unless the applicant volunteers for administrative review in order to seek departures from Land Use Code development standards. The goals of the proposal are to apply a streamlined Administrative Design Review process for a better fit with the small scale of townhouse projects, without adding significantly to development cost.
Note: Administrative Design Review is a process in which DPD staff review and approve applications.
The new Administrative Design Review process is anticipated to be implemented in conjunction with revisions to the Lowrise zones as part of a second phase of work on multifamily zoning.
The City Council has reviewed the Mayor’s proposed changes to multifamily zoning and has decided to split the proposal into two pieces of legislation. The first piece, adopted in December 2009, updates the Midrise (MR) and Highrise (HR) zones, with some provisions amended that affect all zones, such as reductions in parking. The second piece will be taken up in the middle of 2010 by the Council’s Committee on the Built Environment after DPD completes additional analysis requested by the City Councilmembers.
Director's Report and Mayor's Recommended Legislation to City Council Now Available

