Chapter 18.118 — DESIGN REVIEW

Design review shall be required for buildings, structures, or other external improvements including, but not limited to, landscaping, fences and parking areas in D design combining districts, or as otherwise required by this title, to ensure that the visual impacts of such projects will not be adverse to the public or general neighborhood, hinder the orderly and harmonious development of the county or otherwise affect the general prosperity and welfare of its residents. Design review may also be required as a condition of use permits or planned development permits or as a method to implement standards in the general plan, an area plan or a specific plan or as otherwise deemed necessary. (Ord. 467 § 69, 1984)

• (a) Consideration of the design application shall include:

  • (1) Conformance with the specified intent or criteria of certain applicable districts or uses;

  • (2) Standards and provisions of the general plan or any applicable area plan;

  • (3) Conformance with an applicable specific plan; or

  • (4) Conditions specified in applicable use permits or planned unit development permits.

• (b) To these ends, design review shall serve as a format to suggest any changes in the plans of such proposed buildings, structures and other improvements as may be deemed necessary to accomplish the purpose of this chapter. No plan shall be approved until the county is satisfied that such purposes will be accomplished.

• (Ord. 467 § 69, 1984)

• (a) Application for design review shall be made in writing on a form prescribed by the planning department and shall be accompanied by plot plans, drawings or sketches showing the elevations of the proposed building or design of other external improvements. Two copies of application forms and supplemental graphics shall be submitted to the planning department.

• (b) The application, when complete, shall serve as documentation of the proposed design of the project as it will appear after the work has been completed. Approval of the application shall only apply to the design as presented therein and substantial deviation from a design as approved shall require amendment of the application or submittal of a new application.

• (Ord. 467 § 69, 1984)

• (a) The architectural review committee (ARC) shall consist of the director of community development, who shall act as chairman, the county building official and a planning commissioner to be appointed annually by the chairman of the planning commission. The ARC shall review all design review applications, except as herein provided, within fourteen days from acceptance of the application. The ARC may either approve the application as submitted or shall suggest any changes in the plans as it may deem necessary to accomplish the purpose of the design district or applicable standards. The ARC may refer any application to the planning commission for decision. In such case, the planning commission shall hold a hearing on said application and shall render its decision thereon within thirty days after completion of the hearing. Any such application referred to the planning commission for decision shall be subject to the appeal provisions contained in Section 18.118.060 .

• (b) In the case of designs for the construction or exterior remodeling of single-family dwellings and/or accessory structures, or minor remodeling of any structure within a design combining district or otherwise subject to design review, the department of community development may review the application using as its criteria the intent of the district as herein described or referenced and any appropriate guidelines that may be formulated through the ARC for the purpose of review. The department may, within five working days, approve the design review application when satisfied that the design accomplishes the intent of the review. The department may refer any application to the ARC for decision. Any such application referred to the ARC for decision shall be subject to the appeal provisions contained in Section 18.118.060 .

(c) A copy of all approved design review applications shall be forwarded to the building official. (Ord. 467 § 69, 1984; Ord. 467-X § 14, 2000)

Design review may be waived for minor exterior remodeling or repair projects when, upon examination of the plans, it can be determined that the work will not constitute a significant change or have a substantial visual impact upon the appearance of a structure as exposed to the general public and neighborhood (e.g., replacement of foundation, steps, construction of decks and patios screened from public view, or for any additions designed to match the colors and materials of existing structures).

(Ord. 467 § 69, 1984; Ord. 467-W § 10, 1998)

Following shall be the appeal procedure for design reviews performed in accordance with this chapter:

• (a) If the applicant is not satisfied with the action of the department of community development, s/he may request that the ARC review the design. The ARC shall review and render its decision upon such applications within fourteen days of the request.

• (b) If the applicant is not satisfied with the action of the ARC, s/he may, within thirty days after such action, appeal in writing to the planning commission. The planning commission shall hold a hearing on said appeal and shall render its decision thereon within 30 days after completion of the hearing. Any appeal hearing shall be de novo.

• (c) If the applicant or any interested person is not satisfied with the action of the planning commission may, within ten days after such action, appeal in writing to the board of supervisors. The board shall hold a hearing on said appeal and shall render its decision thereon within thirty days after completion of the hearing. Any appeal hearing shall be de novo.

• (Ord. 467 § 69, 1984; Ord. 467 § 15, 2000)