Lynnwood adopts design standards

By Janice Podsada

Herald Writer

LYNNWOOD — It’s a jumble out there.

There’s a nicely landscaped mission-style condominium next to a boxy flat-roofed apartment building, next to a stucco apartment surrounded by a chain-link fence — on just one city block.

To ensure that new apartment, condominium and commercial development projects fit into a neighborhood’s architectural and aesthetic scheme, the Lynnwood City Council on Monday adopted the Citywide Design Code Amendment.

The amendment, which takes effect in two weeks, applies design guidelines to all types of multifamily, commercial and industrial buildings, said Darryl Eastin, Lynnwood senior planner.

Currently, the city has only a code of development standards — basic building requirements such as setbacks, and some general landscape standards. "But nothing that gets into actual design," Eastin said.

The guidelines won’t rule out different architectural building styles in one neighborhood, for example, but they will try to ensure uniformity in design and landscaping.

"As long as the style fits in," Eastin said.

The guidelines are intended to spruce up the city, to take the jumble out of the urban jungle.

City officials have planned to incorporate design guidelines into planning codes for several years. In 2000, the council approved $48,000 for use by the city’s Community Development Department to develop a citywide building design program. Professional designers were hired to provide input.

Everything from mullions, strips that divide a windowpane into smaller segments, to sidewalks to commercial signs will come under the scrutiny of Lynnwood planners.

For instance, commercial signs "should be creative, expressive and individualized."

In recent months, the lack of specifics in some of those guidelines has made local developers nervous. At a public hearing two weeks ago, builders asked council members what standard would be applied and by whom to decide whether a commercial sign was creative and expressive.

Eastin acknowledged that some of the design guidelines lack specifics.

"Some of the guidelines provide specific parameters, like you need to provide 10-foot-wide landscaping. There are other guidelines that are more open-ended, like the ones on signs. We’re trying to encourage creativity. I understand his concerns," Eastin said.

David Toyer, director of the Snohomish County Master Builders Association, said overall he was satisfied with the design guidelines; and they aren’t new. Many cities and towns have drawn up their own similar guidelines.

From here on, when a developer submits building plans for a multifamily housing, commercial or industrial project, city planners will consult with the developer on the design aspects. Consultation will be provided for on an hourly basis, paid for by developers as part of the design review fee, Eastin said.

For large-scale projects, city planners have the option of consulting with an architect, Eastin added.

"We’re going to have a professional architect provide consulting services on a per-project basis, which would be paid for by the developer," he said.

You can call Herald Writer Janice Podsada at 425-339-3029 or send e-mail to podsada@heraldnet.com.

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