A. Overview and Purpose. This title provides for a number of specific departure opportunities to development standards. The purpose is to provide applicants with the option of proposing alternative design treatments, provided such departures meet the purpose of the particular standard and any additional departure criteria established for the particular departure opportunity.

B. Departures Are Voluntary. This provision allows the flexibility for applicants to propose alternative designs on a voluntary basis, provided they meet the purpose of the standard and applicable departure criteria as noted above.

C. Applicability. Departure opportunities are available only where noted for specific standards.

D. Procedures. Permit applications that include departure requests go through the standard review procedures in this chapter, depending on the application type.

E. Approval Criteria. Project applicants must successfully demonstrate to the decision-maker how the proposed departure meets the purpose(s) of the standard and other applicable departure criteria that apply to the specific standard.

F. Documentation. The decision-maker must document the reasons for approving all departures (to be maintained with project application records) for the purpose of providing consistency in decision-making by the city. The Department must provide a report on departures, which include departure applications and decisions, at a minimum interval of every two years. (Ord. 3040 § 2 (Att. A), 2019)