HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes No 039PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 39
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
PALM DESERT RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A REVISED ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW
BOARD PROCESS & BOARD.
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did thoroughly review the current
Architectural Review Process of the City at a duly noticed public hearing held
on March 3, 1975, and;
WHEREAS, the Commission determined that the effectiveness of the review
process would be increased by not limiting the membership of the Architectural
Review Board only to City Officials and Staff, who already have extensive work
load commitments in other areas of civic responsibility, and;
WHEREAS, the Commission determined that the effectiveness of the review
process would be increased by effectively utilizing additional and available
outside resources, and;
WHEREAS, the Commission determined that the effectiveness of the review
process would be increased by having multiple input from persons with professional
design and architectural expertise as members of the Architectural Review Board,
and;
WHEREAS, the Commission determined that the effectiveness of the review
process would be increased by allowing greater time for deliberation and eliminating
"automatic approval" if a decision cannot be reached within a brief period of time,
and;
WHEREAS, multiple safeguards exist to ensure that a professionally consti-
tuted Architectural Review Board will remain responsive to City controls and
that no misuse of authority or conflicts of interest will result, and;
WHEREAS, both the Architectural Review Board and the Planning Commission
recommend changes to the composition of the Board and to the review process, and;
WHEREAS, the review process encompasses aspects other than just architectural
considerations, a name change to reflect this broader role is appropriate, and;
WHEREAS, changes to the review process have no adverse environmental
impacts and a Negative Declaration was made by the Director of Environmental
Services on February 25, 1975 and the appeal period expired on March 5, 1975,
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 39
Page 2.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City
of Palm Desert to recommend that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance
establishing a revised Architectural Review Process and Board.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Planning
Commission of the City of Palm Desert held on March 3, 1975 by the following
vote, to wit:
AYES: BERKEY, MULLINS, SEIDLER, WILSON
NOES:
ABSENT: VAN DE MARK
ABSTAIN:
LLIAM SEIDLER, CHA
ATTEST:
!\ ,cw'
PAUL A. ILLIAMS, SECRETARY
OPDINANCE NO. 72
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT AMENDING THE
ORDINANCE CODE TO ESTABLISIH A DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS AND
BOARD, REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 43, AND REPEALING SECTION
18.30 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Palm Desert as follows:
SECTION 1: Ordinance No. 43 is hereby repealed.
SECTION 2: Section 18.30 of the Zoning Ordinance is hereby
repealed.
SECTION 3: Section 18.30 is hereby added to the Zoning
Ordinance Code to read as follows:
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
(Section 18.30)
(A) Intent and Purpose
A Design Review Board is established in order to:
- Recognize the interdependence of land values and aesthetics
and provide a method by which the City may implement this
interdependence to its benefit.
- Encourage the development of private and public property
in harmony with the desired character of the City and in
conformance with the guidelines herein provided with due
regard to the public and private interests involved.
- Foster attainment of those sections of the City's General
Plan which specifically refer to the preservation and
enhancement of the particular character and unique assets
of this City and its harmonious development, through
encouraging private and public interests to assist in
the implementation process.
Assure that the public benefits derived from expenditures
of public funds for improvement and beautification of
streets and other public structures and spaces shall be
protected by the exercise of reasonable controls over the
character and design of buildings and open spaces to
include street landscaping, median strips, parks, etc.
(B) Membership, Meetings, Duties and Responsibilities
The Design Review Board shall consist of five members. One member shall
be from the Planning Commission. Four members shall be citizens appointed
by the Mayor and approved by the City Council.
The four citizen members (if available) shall be one architect, one civil
engineer, one landscape architect and one lay person knowledgeable in the
design field. Citizen members shall be appointed based on their civic
responsibility, ability to give objective, effective, constructive, and
unprejudiced criticism, ability to give direction and suggest alternatives,
and their use of diplomacy and tact in expressing their judgment.
All members of. the DRB shall serve for an unspecified time or for a
specified period as established by the City Council.
Nee ORDINANCE NO. 72
Page 2.
The Director of Environmental Services shall appoint: a member of the Depart-
ment of Environmental Services to serve as Secretary to the Board.
The DRB shall hold a minimum of two public meetings a month and additional
meetings as directed by the Board. An applicant, upon the filing of an
application, shall be advised of the date and place of his hearing before the
Board. Three members must be present to hold a meeting. A majority vote of
the members present is sufficient to take action on a submittal.
The duties of the DRB shall be to review and approve or cause to he
modified, all proposed developments requiring qualified aesthetic and
architectural judgment to the end that the general appearance of all
proposed developments shall preserve or enhance the physical environment
and character of the City of Palm Desert.
(C) Required Drawings
An applicant shall submit a design review application form and the
following materials as applicable to the specific project (in sufficient
size and quantities as determined by the City Staff) to the DRB.
1. In the "design development" phase of the project:
(a) A dimensioned Site Plan showing:
- Roof plan of building (s)
- Location of existing trees and structures
- Location and dimensions of streets, alleys, and highways
- Location of off-street parking and loading facilities
- Location of points of entry and exit for vehicles and
internal circulation patterns
- Location of walls and fences
- Location of exterior lighting standards
- Grading and slopes - existing and proposed
- Location of existing easements, drainage and utilities
- Street and road improvements
(b) Dimensioned architectural drawings including:
- A plan to scale
- Elevations to include all sides of the proposed project
(buildings, fences) indicating materials and colors
- Perspectives, model or other suitable graphic materials
at the option of the Board
(c) A detailed landscape plan, designating areas to be landscaped,
landscape materials, and sprinkler system
Site photographs at the option of the Board
Fire protection facilities and capacities
(d)
(e)
Noe
ORDINANCE NO. 72
Page 3. �_
2. In the final "application for a building permit" phase, the same
information outlined above, developed into complete construction
documents, shall be submitted.
(D) Findings
The DRB shall review the materials submitted with the application with respect
to the following:
- Conformance with adopted development standards
- General site utilization
- General architectural considerations including a review of:
- the height, bulk and area of the buildings
- the colors and materials to be used
- the'physical and architectural relationship of the
proposal with existing and proposed structures
the site, layout, orientation and location of buildings
and their relationship with open areas, topography, and
line of sight
height, materials, colors and variations in boundary
walls, fences or screen planting
- appropriateness of sign design and exterior lighting
- General landscaping considerations
(E) Action of the DRB
To grant approval of an application, the Board shall find:
- That the proposed development conforms to any legally adopted
development standards.
- That the design and location of the proposed development and its
relationship to neighboring existing or proposed developments
and traffic is such that it will not impair the desirability of
investment or occupation in the neighborhood; and that it will
not unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of neighboring
existing or proposed developments, and that it will not create
traffic hazards or congestion.
- That the design and location of the proposed development is in
keeping with the character of the surrounding neighborhood and
is not detrimental to the harmonious, orderly, and attractive
development contemplated by this Ordinance and General Plan of
the City.
- That the design and location of the proposed development would
provide a desirable environment for its occupants, as well as
for its neighbors and that it is aesthetically of good composition,
materials, textures and colors.
- The proposed use must conform to all the requirements of the
zone in which it is located and all other applicable requirements.
- The overall development of the land shall be designed to ensure
the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare.
''iw+ ORDINANCE NO. 72
Page 4. - -
(F) Effective Date of DRB Decisions
The Board shall consider matters before them within thirty (30) days after the
date of filing of the required application with the Planning Division of the
Department of Environmental Services. If the Board fails to render a decision
within thrity (30) days from its first consideration, then the application shall •
be automatically forwarded to the Planning Commission for consideration and
action. If the Planning Commission fails to render a decision within thirty (30)
days from its first consideration, then the application shall be automatically
forwarded to the City Council for consideration and action.
(G) Developments Subject to Site Plan Review
No use certificate for a new structure or for the exterior alteration or
enlargement of an existing structure shall be issued until the development
has been reviewed and approved by the DRB as prescribed by this section.
(H) Staff Review
The Environmental Services staff shall process and review all Design Review
Board applications and shall act as professional advisors to the Board. Other
staff members may provide advice to the Board depending upon the complexity
of the project and the need for specific expertise.
(I) Design Review Area
No action shall be taken on an application for the issuance of a building or
sign permit for any sign, building or structure in any zone district in the
City, without the approval of the Design Review Board. The Board shall also
review and approve or cause to be modified any matter referred to the Board
by the City Council or the Planning Commission.
(J) Dei.gati.on of Authority
The DRB may, at its discretion, authorize the Director of Environmental
Services to approve or cause to be modified sign applications not exceeding
$500 in value, exterior remodelings not exceeding $2500 in value, and
proposed additions to single/family residences not exceeding a change or
increase in 25% of the total square footage.
(K) Establishment of Architectural and Development Guidelines
The Board shall develop specific criteria for design to be considered in review-
ing applications for development in the City. Said guidelines or development
standards shall be submitted to the Commission for review and recommendation
to the Council. The Council shall review and take final action by resolution
on all such recommendations. Such guidelines or development standards shall not
be applied until approved by the Council. The guidelines and development
standards may be amended from time to time as initiated by the Council, the
Planning Commission or the DRB.
(L) Appeals to Planning Commission
An applicant, the Planning Commission, the City Council_ or any owner of
property, on the date of DRB decision, located within three hundred (300)
feet of the subject property, may appeal the decision of the DRB to the
Planning Commission within fifteen (15) days from the date of the decision.
(M) Coordination with Required Site Plan Review
The Director of Environmental Services shall assure that all actions taken
by the DRB are coordinated with the Planning Division's site plan rev:Lew
process.
ORDINANCE NO. 72
Page 5. ~'
(N) Planning; Commission Review
All requests for initial plot plan approval on property located in any commercial
or industrial district (except sign review and additions) shall be acted upon
by the Design Review Board and forwarded to the Planning Commission for final
review and approval. The Commission may, by a majority vote, elect to assume
authority over any other. request. The Planning Commission shall use the
same criteria in evaluating a project as outlined in this Article for the
Design Review Board.
(0) Appeals to City Council
An applicant, the City Council, or any owner of property located within three
hundred (300) feet of the subject property may appeal from the decision of
the Planning Commission to the City Council within fifteen (15) days from the
date of the decision.
(P) City Council
The City Council may, by majority vote, elect to assume authority over any
request acted upon by the Design Review Board or Planning Commission. The
Council shall use the same criteria in evaluating a project as outlined in
this Article for the Design Review Board.
The City Clerk of the City of Palm Desert, California is hereby
directed to cause this ordinance to be published once within fifteen (15)
days of adoption in the Palm Desert Post, a newspaper published and circulated
within the City of Palm Desert, California, and the same shall be in force
and effect thirty (30) days after adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this
by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST:
HARVEY L. HURLBURT, CITY CLERK
City of Palm Desert, California
day of , 1975
HENRY B. CLERK, MAYOR
City of Palm Desert, California