Given the generally crappy architecture that results even with design review, I'm not sure what the point of it is. Urban design was left behind in the Growth Management Act. Bargained away, I'm sure, for rural protections most likely.

The "housing shortage" was created by the city counsel by allowing the arcane, slow moving, medieval regulations of design review to bring construction to a costly and glacial pace.

DCLU of course is against it... because they would have to do something besides move the blue prints from one pile marked under review to another pile marked under further review.

Mr. Strauss... you want to move this along, but we need to study it more? Spoken like a true city counsel member... if only we could get you out of here and off to Washington...they think just like you do. ... .... and finally extend the exemption, or at least reduce its reach to all construction. Given DCLU and SDOT's vision of Seattle we will all be living in micro-housing commuting to work on bike paths.... neither practical, nor desired.

And finally, the affordable housing supply would be greatly increased by allowing developer to actually build as opposed to spending inordinate amounts of time and money going thru tedious design review. We have a building code..... try using that to see if the design and construction plans are in accord.

As to the "so-called lack of affordable housing"... which is really a drug addiction problem in great measure. would be greatly reduced if the city did something about all the drug addicts... A drug addict doesn't work and therefore can't afford housing.