The City Council hereby finds that excessive similarity or dissimilarity, inappropriateness or poor quality of design in the exterior appearance of buildings erected in any neighborhood or in the development and maintenance of structures, landscaping, signs, poor passive solar design resulting in excessive energy consumption, and general appearance affect the desirability of the immediate area and neighboring areas for residential and business purposes or other uses, and by so doing impair the benefits of occupancy of existing property in such areas, prevent the most appropriate development of such areas, produce degeneration of property in such areas with attendant deterioration of conditions affecting the health, safety, comfort and general welfare of the inhabitants of the City of Claremont, and destroy the proper relationship between the taxable value of real property in such areas and the cost of municipal services provided therefor.

At the same time, a high level of quality in the design and redesign of the City's physical environment can protect and enhance the livability and investment potentials of the City. New development, properly designed, that does not detract from the quality and character of nearby established development because of architectural style, scale or location, can be a positive addition to the City's environment; historic and architecturally significant sites, properly preserved and restored as physical representations of Claremont's character, can enhance Claremont's historic and cultural heritage; and development with proper consideration for energy conservation can contribute to the City's overall efficiency.

It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to support the community design policies of the General Plan; to guide the design and redesign of the City's physical environment to encourage excellence in architectural design; to protect and enhance the community's character, sense of place, and the identities of Claremont's unique neighborhoods; and to promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the community.

Any decision by staff or the Architectural and Preservation Commission, or any condition imposed by the staff or the Architectural and Preservation Commission, may be appealed in accordance with the procedures in Chapter 16.321, Appeals and Council Review. Filing of an appeal shall suspend the issuance of a building permit pursuant to the decision until action is taken on the appeal. Appeals of decisions subject to both this chapter and Chapter 16.302, Cultural Resources Preservation, shall be consolidated and heard at the same meeting.