Laserfiche WebLink
9.A - Page 2 <br />The purpose this City Council Study Session is two -fold: <br />1) For City staff to provide an overview of the current single-family design review <br />process and for the City Council to provide feedback on how it could be improved <br />on both a short term and long-term basis, and <br />2) For the City Council to provide comments related to beginning a historical study <br />of the Mt. Carmel neighborhood. <br />Following this study session, staff will move forward with a series of actions, many of <br />which will come to the Council for approval. The action plan will also be widely <br />circulated, and made available to the general public. <br />ANALYSIS <br />Neiqhborhood Compatibility and Desiqn Review for Sinqle-Familv Home Proiects <br />Current Process <br />All single-family home projects must undergo a zoning code compliance review to <br />ensure all objective zoning code standards are met and a building code review to <br />ensure compliance with the building code. Furthermore, larger projects, which include <br />any home proposing an addition to a second story or a new second story, or <br />construction of a new two story home, must go through a more detailed Architectural <br />Permit (AP) process. New one-story homes or one-story additions do not require an <br />Architectural Permit. Staff provide "Tips for Success" for property owners considering <br />modifications to a single family home; this is attached to this report as Attachment 2. <br />Although no neighborhood notification is required by code, historically staff has required <br />that neighbors be notified of proposed projects prior to submittal to the City. The <br />homeowner must submit signed letters from adjoining neighbors stating that they have <br />seen the plans, or the applicant must send the plans and project description via certified <br />mail. This process can assist in communication between neighbors and addressing any <br />issues early on. Staff provides <br />The Architectural Permit must be approved by the Zoning Administrator (Planning <br />Manager), but generally does not require a public meeting (except for some projects <br />proposed on sloped lots). The Zoning Administrator's decision is appealable to the <br />Planning Commission. In addition, certain projects may also require Historical Resource <br />Advisory Review Committee review as well. <br />For projects that require an Architectural Permit, there are two types of standards <br />provided in the Zoning Ordinance: objective and subjective. Objective standards are <br />typically numerical, and can be measured and applied consistently across a variety of <br />