1999-02-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DISCUSSION: DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS Administrative Process Ms. Daugherty said that development and design processes in other cities seem to include more administrative approvals. Mr. Ron Higgins, Acting Director of Community Development, said that signs, paint colors, and non-building permit issues are currently approved administratively. Mr. Cox asked if the Board of Architectural Review has thought about going to two meetings a month, and Ms. Joan Fenton, Chair of the BAR, said that ifa project has been initially turned down or if there are extenuating circumstances, the BAR has agreed to have an interim meeting in two weeks if they can get a quorum. Ms. Fenton noted that the BAR members are uncomfortable with the idea of a committee process and would prefer that the whole board meet and approve projects. Mr. Higgins explained that in Charleston, the Chair of the BAR and a staff member make the decision about what should go before the BAR and what can be approved administratively. Ms. Fenton said that perhaps the Chair and other BAR members could review issues, or the Chair could call one or two other members to check to see whether an issue could be approved administratively. Mr. Caravati said he would prefer that two BAR members be involved in the decision. Mr. Clyde Gouldman, City Attorney, cautioned that such a process might slow down the process rather than streamline it. Ms. Richards said it makes sense to brOaden administrative approval. Ms. Fenton said she does not feel that the BAR is overburdened or gets things that they should not. Mr. Caravati said that the uniform comment he hears is a concern about the consistency of decisions and efficiency of the process. Mr. Caravati said this concern may be solved by the proposed reorganization of Community Development, Engineering, and Building and Life Safety. Mr. O'Connell explained that staff are looking at ways to simplify and streamline the process, and make it more of a team approach. Mr. Caravati expressed concern that members of the Planning Commission and BAR sometimes go outside the boundaries of their responsibilities, asking inappropriate questions of applicants. Mr. Caravati suggested that this could be limited by training or perhaps clarification of exi sting ordinances. Pre-Meetings with Developers Ms. Nancy Damon, Chair of the Planning Commission, said she has spoken to developers who say they would like to have some sort of pre-meeting to get a sense of approval of a concept. Ms. Daugherty noted that Council had wanted pre-meetings set up with the purpose of giving feedback to developers. Mr. Cox said he has not found pre-meetings to be very informative. Ms. Richards suggested that the BAR might provide a pre-submission meeting.