City of Bellingham Municipal Code

20.25.030 - PROCEDURE

A. Design review applications shall follow the procedures in BMC 21.10 and the following:

1. Design Review Board. For projects requiring review by the Design Review Board, the following procedures shall apply:

a. Pre-Application Design Guidance Meeting. The applicant shall apply for a pre-application meeting with Design Review Board. The applicant shall provide conceptual level information regarding the proposed project, including any potential concept alternatives. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss which design standards are applicable; how the design standards, guidelines and regulations apply to the proposed project and provide guidance on information that should be provided with the design review application.

The Director may waive the pre-applicaton meeting for complete design review applications received within 90 days of the effective date of this ordinance in order to facilitate design review projects already in advanced stages of design development on the effective date of this ordinance.

b. Design Response Meeting. Within 60 days after a complete design review application has been submitted, the application shall be scheduled for review by the Design Review Board at a public meeting. Notice of the meeting shall be mailed as provided in BMC 21.10.200 D. and shall also be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least 10 days prior to the meeting date. The applicant shall provide an analysis of the project's consistency with the design criteria. Staff shall provide a report responding to the applicant's analysis. Public comment relevant to the application of the design criteria shall be considered, but the Board may restrict the time allotted for comment in order to complete their meeting agenda. The DRB shall review the plans for consistency with the applicable design guidelines, standards and regulations and forward a recommendation to the Director by motion. The Board may recommend conditions of approval. If the Board does not recommend approval, the Board shall specify which criteria were not satisfied and the elements of the project that were not in compliance.