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said what is allowed and not allowed under zoning classifications should be better defined to avoid misinterpretations, and cited the problems of misinterpretation with the proposed low rise R&D building across from the Lido Housing development. In response to Council questions, Planning Commissioner McCoy said he supported the Architectural Advisory Committee having a role in the approval process. He said there was a danger in reaching agreement on projects in subcommittees which would short change the public. The 2150 Roosevelt project was classic democracy in action. The most vociferous members of the public didn't agree with the Planning Commission's decision and appealed it to the Council. Commissioner McCoy said that was a good process. He added, however, that architectural review would be a good step to add to the process. Planning Chairman Bursak described the process of approving a project when it comes to the Planning Commission after architectural review. He said he supported changing the Architectural Advisory Committee into a Commission and giving it mandatory review, as its role will become more and more important in the future. He distributed an article that describes a 4,500 home project south of Seattle, Washington, and discussed future housing east of Highway 101. Architectural Advisory Committee Member Morrison said some of the projects are too far along in the process before they reach their committee, and sometimes the members feel they are only supposed to deal with cosmetics. He asked that the Committee be involved earlier in the process. Councilman Claire said that many years ago he, Councilwoman La Berge and former Mayor Greenalch had "fought very hard for an architectural committee in place with the authority to make its decisions part of the planning approval process." He said he wanted a committee with a strong role in the appearance of the City. Councilman Claire said at that time there was concern that another approval process would slow the process down, and there was overriding sentiment to speed up the permit process. He said he was supportive of mandatory architectural review. Councilman Claire said he firmly believed that "the Planning Commission is totally independent, and totally independent thinkers from the City Council." He said when he became a Commissioner in 1978 the Council routinely voted to approve projects when the Commission had rejected them, and reject those the Commission had approved. He said that has not been the case for many years, and the Roosevelt project was the first project overturned by the Council in the past ten years. He said the process works well and he likes the Commission's independence. Councilman Claire said the Council's vote is based on more factors than what Commissioners must consider, and his decision to uphold the appeal of a zoning change for the 2150 Roosevelt project was a rejection of the proposed zoning amendment placing an infill project in a residential area rather than a transportation corridor where it belongs, and not a rejection of having SPECIAL CITY COUNClL/PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION OCTOBER 20, 1997 STUDY SESSION MEETING MINUTES MINUTE BOOK NO. 55 PAGE 12 Page No. 596