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RATIONALE <br />Most types of residential development in Louisville require "discretionary" <br />review against subjective standards and multiple public hearings. For <br />example, any residential project with more than six units typically requires a <br />Planned Unit Development (PUD) that requires four public hearings in total <br />before Planning Commission and City Council and review against 28 review Housing Goals <br />criteria.13 Stakeholder engagement during this Housing Plan emphasized the <br />challenges of developing housing in such an unpredictable environment. To <br />lower risk, reduce costs, and facilitate more housing development that aligns with City goals and policies, <br />The City should evaluate streamlining its residential development process related to review procedures <br />and regulations for efficiency and predictability. The premise behind this action item is for the City to <br />create predictability through clearer processes and standards that reflect community values around <br />transparency and community design. <br />DESCRIPTION <br />In recent years, particularly in areas where housing <br />prices have soared and development has become <br />more expensive, cities have made efforts to streamline <br />development processes in a variety of ways to help <br />speed up housing production, while finding ways to help <br />reduce costs. This action focuses on three ways <br />Louisville can approach creating a more streamlined <br />and predictable development process. <br />Adopt Clear and Objective Development <br />Regulations. For appropriate residential and <br />mixed -use projects, standards should be specific, <br />measurable, and objective rather than subjective <br />or discretionary; and provide clear expectations for <br />developers and consistency in application by staff. <br />This saves time and resources for both developers <br />and cities by reducing the need to debate <br />interpretations, a factor that can erode the <br />relationship between developers and cities, two <br />entities that must work together to address housing <br />needs. Clear and objective standards may also <br />create an opportunity for more projects to be <br />CLEAR AND OBJECTIVE <br />STANDARDS <br />Best Practices <br />Revise vague or ambiguous <br />standards to provide precise, <br />quantifiable language around <br />allowable densities, building form, <br />lot coverage, setbacks, parking, <br />landscaping, etc. <br />Limit use of subjective phrases like <br />"compatible" or "consistent with <br />neighborhood character." <br />Use graphics, tables, and matrices to <br />clearly communicate objective <br />criteria and dimensional standards <br />based on location and building type. <br />reviewed administratively, which would reduce the <br />need for some projects to be heard and debated by Planning Commission and City Council. <br />However, the City will need to strike a balance and avoid overly prescriptive standards that don't <br />13 See Louisville Municipal Code Section 17.28.120. <br />Louisville Housing Plan Part 4: Housing Strategies and Actions 44 <br />