Design Review Board

The City's Design Review Board was established in 1994 and is comprised of citizens and practicing professionals who represent community interests including a diversity of design and technical professions.  Board members are nominated by the Mayor, appointed by City Council, and serve without compensation.

The Design Review Board meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 5:30 pm in the Council Briefing Center, Lower Level, City Hall.

Design Review Board
Members Term Ends Position
Mark Aden, Chair 6/30/12 Building Industry
Tom Arnold, Vice-Chair 3/31/13 Civil or Structural Engineer
Craig Andersen 3/31/12 Landscape Architect
Colleen Gardner 6/30/14 Community Assembly Representative
Matthew Collins 9/30/14 Spokane Arts Commission
Jacqui Halvorson 6/30/12 Citizen at Large
Len Zickler 3/31/13 Urban Planner/Designer
Chris Batten 6/30/12 Real Estate Developer
Austin Dickey 12/31/14 Architect
For more information please contact:
Julie Neff, Urban Designer (509) 625-6082
Tami Palmquist (509) 625-6157

Upcoming meetings:

  • February 22
    Centennial Trail Phase I at Kendall Yards
  • March 28
    Division St. Gateway (pending)

How we can help you:

The City of Spokane recognizes that the best design solutions involve creative responses to multiple factors including a site, its surroundings, community goals, and project goals. The Urban Design Office and the Design Review Board are advocates for design excellence in Spokane. We work to protect and enhance Spokane’s quality of life by helping applicants interpret the spirit and intent of the City’s adopted codes, policies, and design guidelines for projects requiring design review.

Additionally, in the Downtown, the DRB can recommend flexibility from design standards found in Section 17C.124.500 Design Standards Implementation if it is agreed that the proposed alternative meets or exceeds the intent. The Board’s recommendations for projects requiring design review, as well as those seeking flexibility from design standards, will be forwarded to the appropriate hearing or permitting official.


When preparing an application for design review, project proponents are encouraged to consider the following objectives:


Quality
How will your project help raise the bar in Spokane?

Context
How does your proposal show respect for its surroundings and the neighborhood?

Character
Thoughtful design - how will the design of your project contribute to an endearing community character?

Connections
How does your proposal contribute to building a district or neighborhood? How does it recognize, respond, and build relationships - visual, historical, and social? How does it accommodate pedestrian connections?




2012 Design Review Projects (click to reveal)

 Supplementary information is on file at City Hall

2011 Design Review Projects (click to reveal)

 Supplementary information is on file at City Hall

2010 Design Review Projects (click to reveal)

 Supplementary information is on file at City Hall

2009 Design Review Projects (click to reveal)

 Supplementary information is on file at City Hall

Outdated Documents