Design Review Needs You . . .

This is one of the best ways to affect the local design decisions in your neighborhood . . . please apply.

Members Sought for Seattle's Design Review Boards

Seattle - Mayor Greg Nickels is looking for qualified candidates to fill upcoming openings on the city of Seattle ’s Design Review Board. The positions will be available in April 2007 when retiring board members’ terms expire.

The city is looking for professionals in the design and development fields, who have proven skills and established careers. It also needs community and business leaders with an interest in shaping new development in their neighborhoods, and a passion for keeping Seattle a great place to live, work and play.

Applications will be accepted for the following board positions. The deadline for applications is Dec. 13, 2006.

Northwest Design Review Board

-- design professional

-- local business representative

Northeast Design Review Board

-- community representative

-- local residential representative

Queen Anne/Magnolia Design Review Board

-- local business representative

Southeast Design Review Board

-- design professional

-- local business representative

Southwest Design Review Board

-- local business representative

Downtown Design Review Board

-- no open positions

Capital Hill/First Hill/Central District Design Review Board

-- design professional

-- development representative

-- local business representative

Board members are appointed by the mayor and City Council and serve two-year terms which may be renewed once. Members serve on one of 7 boards that review projects in the city’s major geographic districts; each board has five members.

Each board is composed of a:

-- design professional

-- development representative

-- community representative

-- local business representative

-- local residential representative

The Design Review Program was established in 1994 to provide an alternative to prescriptive zoning requirements and foster new development that better responds to the character of its surroundings. Boards evaluate the design of development projects based on citywide and neighborhood-specific design guidelines. The boards review mixed-use developments, multifamily housing, and commercial projects above a certain threshold.

Applicants should have: knowledge of, or interest in, architecture, urban design and the development process; the ability to listen and communicate effectively at public meetings; a passion for design and community development; and the ability to work well with others under pressure. Prior experience with community or neighborhood groups is a plus.

Board members must live in the city. The local residential representative must be nominated by a community group or association (e.g. community council) that operates within the board district. Similarly, the local business representative must be nominated by a business group (e.g. chamber of commerce) that operates within the board district. The nominations for these local positions are often facilitated if the board member lives or works within the district he or she is serving, but residency in a district is not a requirement to serve as a local representative. Applicants need not have secured a nomination at the time of application.

Board members should expect to work 12-14 hours a month attending and preparing for board meetings, which are held twice a month, in the evenings. Board members are expected to attend at least 90 percent of the meetings.

Applications will be accepted for positions other than those listed above and kept on file for consideration for future openings.

To be considered for appointment to one of the design review boards, please send an application, a cover letter and resume by Dec. 13 addressed to:

Tom Iurino

Design Review Board

Department of Planning and Development

City of Seattle

700 – 5 th Ave Ste 2000

P.O. Box 34019

Seattle, Washington 98124-4019

tom.iurino@seattle.gov

E-mail submissions are preferred.

You may download an application at www.seattle.gov/designreview or email tom.iurino@seattle.gov

For more information on the design review boards and the city’s Design Review Program, visit www.seattle.gov/designreview.

mation, please contact Tom Iurino, Design Review Program Specialist, at 206-615-1457 or via e-mail at tom.iurino@seattle.gov, or Alan Justad, 233-3891, or via email at alan.justad@seattle.gov

The Nickels Administration is committed to promoting diversity in the City's boards and commissions. Women, persons with disabilities, sexual minorities, and persons of color are encouraged to apply.

For more information on mayor initiatives, please visit the mayor’s web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor’s inside view on initiatives to promote transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for TheNickels Newsletter at http://www.cityofseattle.net/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.

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