Seattle mayor wants design review for all town homes

Calling some town homes unattractive, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels on Tuesday proposed changes to improve their appearance.

Under Nickels' plan, the design of all town-home developments would be reviewed by city staff. The measure requires City Council approval.

The mayor hopes changes to city code will solve problems such as monotonous walls butting up against sidewalks, a lack of windows and doors facing the street, and a car-focused layout.

"This leaves the door open for affordable housing, but does it in a way that adds to, rather than detracts from the neighborhood," Nickels said today at a news conference on Capitol Hill.

The design review would be conducted by the city's Department of Planning and Development.

Currently, only large projects require design review, conducted by a review board of community members. That will not change for large projects.

Town-home developers have complained that the current system of review takes too long and drives up the final selling price. To get around that review, they often choose to build adjoining smaller projects.

Nickels said the new level of review would add some cost, but he does not think it will be significant. The review process would take six to nine months to complete.

Among the code changes he proposed:

• Lowering fence heights from six feet to four feet.

• Eliminating parking requirements for some town-home projects, for example if they are near a future light-rail station.

• Allowing developers to build higher buildings in exchange for reserving some units considered affordable for those who make less than the area's median income.

• Requiring environmentally friendly landscaping, such as green roofs, trellised walls or planting strips.

Nickels expects to send the legislation to the City Council later this summer.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com