Seattle has a new design review process designed to add more community time and discussion as developers continue to reshape many areas of the city. Hybrid, a Capitol Hill architecture firm located on E Pike, held one of Seattle’s first early community outreach meetings as mandated by the new design review process last week.

As CHS reported last month, an ordinance passed last year that went into effect July 1st requires developers to “actively solicit community input before beginning the design review process” if the project begins its development permitting process after that date.

This new rule allows Seattle residents early opportunities to shape local developments and, hopefully, create more transparency and community engagement in the design process.

The meeting on 162 22nd Ave dealt with the demolition of an existing blue single-family home that sits on this property to create room for the construction of three new townhouse units and one single family residence. Five neighbors from the surrounding houses attended the outreach gathering hosted by three members of the Hybrid team.

“What are your guys’ main concerns about it? Is it the fact that it’s here at all? Is it the density? Is it the parking? Is it the building form?”

Robert Humble, a founding partner of Hybrid, asked during the meeting, imploring community members to ask their own questions. “This is your chance to, kind of, [to tell us] what you’d like to see.”

The five neighbors voiced their worries on issues as disparate as underground sewer lines, retaining walls, and the greenery that lines the property. The next-door neighbor to the south wanted to keep some of her trees on the property line border, but stressed to the developers that she hoped others would be cut down during the demolition process, for example. While a number of intimate conversations sprouted between the architects and the community members, Scott Goodner of Hybrid noted their concerns on a piece of paper.

CHS noted in July that “if a developer starts asking residents before they start designing too much, they can get input that certain buildings or areas aren’t necessarily what the community likes.” Humble concurred with this assessment at the intimate gathering on Wednesday.

“The point is we’d like to not be a big nuisance to this neighborhood,” he said. “That’s the part I enjoy; I think they can build community and that people are going to stay here for a long time.” Hybrid has designed a number of similar projects in the community, one of which has housed the same people since its construction nearly ten years ago.

Developers are under no obligation to incorporate the suggestions and concerns of community members into their final projects.

One of the main goals of these early outreach meetings is to give neighbors the inside scoop on what will soon be happening next door to them so they can prepare for the change.

“I realize things will change as we go along, but we’re just, you know, we’re trying to plan alongside you,” one adjacent neighbor said.

Not only could the neighbors discuss their ideas for the project, but the meeting gave the architects an opportunity to brainstorm amongst themselves, as well. Also, it gave the developers the chance to ensure the community that their needs are being examined and certain issues are already in the minds of the architects.

Goodner said that privacy studies for both sides of the property have been conducted, as well as shading studies to ensure that the development does not block out too much natural light.

Each of the neighbors were given the opportunity to sign in and write down their contact information, so they could receive electronic versions of the blueprints, instead of having to search for them through the City of Seattle website. Additionally, in-depth site plans that will be submitted for design review in the coming weeks were shown to the attendees to give them a clearer understanding of the project.

Once the plans are finalized and submitted to the City, they will be open to public comment, allowing more neighbors to speak out on the project. The developers plan to break ground on this project in June 2019, but it all depends on the design review and permitting processes.

You can keep track of the project at 162 22nd Ave by watching for updates at seattle.gov.

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