The Applicant's Toolbox is a resource for project managers, designers and developers of private development projects who go through Seattle's design review process and present their projects for review by one of the city's seven Design Review Boards.

It also may be useful to citizens, students and those from other municipalities who want to learn the details of the design review process for private development.

This online toolbox includes:

1. Instructions
Consult the instructions on how to submit a project for design review and for an overview of the program's operations, including the threshold for each zone to determine if a project must go through the City's Design Review process.

2. Design Guidelines
The guidelines form the backbone of the design review program. The Design Review Boards, the developers and architects, and the city's planning staff all refer to them when shaping a development project.

• Design Review Guidelines for Multifamily and Commercial Buildings: covers all Board Districts except for Downtown (see map of districts). In 2012, DPD will be updating these design guidelines. 
  • Neighborhood-Specific Design Guidelines: supplements the Design Review Guidelines for Multifamily and Commercial Buildings in certain neighborhoods that have adopted them
• Design Review Guidelines for Downtown Development: covers Downtown only (see map of districts)

3. Sample Design Proposal Packets
Want to see a typical design proposal packet that developers and architects are required to submit in advance of their Early Design Guidance and Recommendation review meetings? Look at good examples of a sample design proposal packet.

Also, more design proposal packets can be found in the archive.