The design review process is established to:

   (A)   Promote orderly, attractive, and harmonious development throughout Santa Paula;

   (B)   Recognize neighborhood character and environmental limitations in development;

   (C)   Ensure that the design and exterior architectural treatment of proposed structures complement the design or exterior architectural treatment of existing structures in the immediate neighborhood and do not conflict with existing development in any manner that would cause a substantial depreciation of property values in the neighborhood; and

   (D)   Promote the general welfare by preventing establishment of uses or erection of structures having qualities which would not meet the specific intent clauses or performance standards of this Title 16, or which are not properly related to their sites, surroundings, traffic circulation, or environmental setting.

   (E)   Assure conformance with the provisions of this Title 16 and in particular, for conformance with the design, land use regulations and development standards set forth in Chapters 16.07 through 16.76 and the Design Review Guidelines set forth in City Council Resolution 5298.

   (A)   The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all development requiring a building permit, including:

      (1)   Any commercial or industrial development.

      (2)   Multi-family residential projects.

      (3)   Second units (a.k.a. granny flats)

      (4)   Single-family homes that are reviewed concurrently with a tentative subdivision map.

      (5)   Single-family homes including manufactured homes being moved onto an existing lot.

      (6)   Carports.

      (7)   Signs, pursuant to Chapter 16.48.

      (8)   Fences or walls on commercially or industrially zoned property.

      (9)   Development of any structures intended for educational (as allowed by state law), institutional, or similar purposes.

      (10)   Habitable accessory structures.

   (B)   Exceptions to the application of this Chapter 16.226 include:

      (1)   Single-family homes on existing residentially zoned legal lots.

      (2)   Additions to single-family homes on residentially zoned legal lots.

      (3)   Non-habitable accessory structures other than carports on single-family residential lots.

      (4)   Interior modifications to a building or structure that do not result in a change to the exterior appearance of the building or structure.

   (C)   For any development proposal requiring a discretionary permit, design review shall be conducted in conjunction with the discretionary permit application.

(Ord. 1104, passed 7-19-04; Am. Ord. 1159, passed 6-19-06; Am. Ord. 1172, passed 7-2-07 ; Am. Ord. 1305, passed 10-7-20)

   (A)   A Design Review Committee, comprised of the Planning Director or designee, City Engineer or designee, and representatives from the City Building and Safety, Fire and Police Departments, is hereby established for the purpose of conducting design review.

   (B)   The Design Review Committee shall be responsible for reviewing relevant applications for conformance with the provisions of this Title 16 and in particular, for conformance with the design, land use regulations and development standards set forth in Chapters 16.07 through 16.76 and the Design Review Guidelines set forth in City Council Resolution 5298.

   (C)   In performing design review, the Committee shall be guided by the statement of purpose set forth in § 16.226.010 (Purpose and Intent) above. Further, the Committee shall work to bar the unsightly, the inharmonious, the monotonous, and the hazardous to ensure that proposed improvements will not impair the desirability of investment or occupancy nearby. However, originality in site planning, architecture, landscaping, and graphic design shall not be suppressed.

   In addition to meeting of the other application requirements of this Development Code, projects subject to design review shall be required to have the following materials submitted to the Planning Department:

   (A)   A site plan, drawn to scale, showing the proposed location of structures and other improvements, including, where appropriate, driveways, pedestrian walkways, off-street parking areas, landscaped areas, fences, and walls. The site plan shall indicate the locations of off-street parking areas, including entrances and exits, and the direction of traffic flow into and out of off-street parking areas.

   (B)   A landscaped plan, drawn to scale, showing the locations of existing trees proposed to be removed and proposed to be retained on the site; the location and design of landscaped areas and the varieties and sizes of plant materials to be planted therein; and other landscape features, including irrigation system.

   (C)   Architectural drawings or sketches, drawn to scale, including floor plans in sufficient detail to permit computation of yard requirements and showing all elevations of the proposed structures as they will appear upon completion. All exterior surface materials and colors shall be specified.

   (D)   Accurate scale drawings of all signs indicating sign size, material, color, and illumination, if any.

   (E)   Grading and drainage plans may be required by the City Engineer.

   (F)   Such other data required on the Planning Department Instructions for Submitting Applications for the Design Review Committee to ensure that the purposes of this section are satisfied.

(Ord. 1104, passed 7-19-04 ; Am. Ord. 1305, passed 10-7-20)

   (A)   Application completeness. Within 30 days of the date the application is submitted, the Planning Director shall make a determination on application completeness.

   The effective date of the Committee's decision shall be the date indicated on the city document delivered to the applicant informing the applicant of the Committee's decision.

(Ord. 1104, passed 7-19-04 ; Am. Ord. 1305, passed 10-7-20)

   (A)   A Design Review approval shall be implemented within one year from the effective date of the approval to establish a right to use the approval. The approval shall lapse and become void after that one year unless either:

      (1)   A building permit has been issued and construction commenced and diligently pursued toward completion on the site for which Design Review approval was granted; or

      (2)   Prior to the date on which Design Review approval will lapse, the permittee files a written request to renew the Design Review permit pursuant to subsection (B) below; or

      (3)   Associated Planning permits that have a longer expiration period are obtained at the same time as Design Review approval, in which case the later expiration date shall be observed.

   (B)   A Design Review approval subject to lapse may be renewed for a maximum one-year period, provided that a written request for renewal is filed with the Planning Department prior to the expiration date, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 16.222 (Minor Modifications).

   (C)   The Planning Director may approve or deny an application for renewal of a Design Review approval. As part of the action, the Director may also modify existing conditions of approval or add new conditions to reflect any change in circumstances related to the project and surrounding properties.

(Ord. 1104, passed 7-19-04 ; Am. Ord. 1305, passed 10-7-20)