07/15/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

i th 18. Consideration of Resolution Adopting e Proposed Fast Track Guide for New Residences. CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15378(b)(2) (Staff. D. Pedro) Planning Director Debbie Pedro introduced the item to Council. She provided a brief background report on the proposed Guide. The City Council, at their regular May 14, 2009 council meeting, voted unanimously to establish an Ad Hoc Subcommittee to review and update the former Guidelines for Residential Design and Land Use. The original guidelines had been repealed in 2001. The Ad Hoc Committee members included: Councilmembers Jean Mordo and Ginger Summit; Planning Commissioners Eric Clow and John Harpootlian and Peter Duxbury, Architect and Shawn Owen, Owen Homes, representatives from the Design Community. The draft document had been forwarded to five Town Standing Committees for review and comment: Environmental Design and Protection, Pathways, Environmental Initiatives, Open Space Committee and Community Relations. Pedro proceeded with a PowerPoint presentation illustrating the key components of the new Guide. The rationale for developing the Guide was to assist those who were planning to build a new residence to understand the basic philosophy behind the Town's General Plan and Zoning and Site Development ordinances. It was crafted as an educational tool to be used by residents, architects and designers. The Guide included 4 goals and 40 guidelines. The guidelines were a combination of 23 design principles that were encouraged and 17 mandatory standards that were required. The proposed guide included a new improved format, updated information including references to Green Building requirements; and a point system checklist to quantify how closely the application complied with the set of development guidelines. In addition, the guide had been renamed"Fast Track Guide for New Residences." The checklist that accompanied the guide worked on a negative point system. Each development guideline had an established point value between 1 to 5 (1=recommended, 5=very important). Projects that did not comply with a particular guideline would receive the applicable points. A new residence that scored 14 points or less would be eligible for a Fast Track hearing. With a project that scored between 15 to 21 points, the applicant would have the option to redesign the plan or be forwarded to the Planning Commission. A project that scored 22 points or greater would require review by the Planning Commission. Pedro clarified that the Fast Track ordinance was approved by the City Council in 1999 to streamline the development process for projects that met all of the Town's regulations and had little or no neighborhood opposition. If approved, the Fast Track Guide for New Residences and Checklist would be used solely to determine whether a project would qualify for Fast Track review. When reviewing a project, the Site Development authority (Planning Director or Planning Commission) would not utilize the Fast Track Guide to assist with interpretations of the provisions of the Zoning and Site Development ordinances. Project review would be limited to elements of the proposed development 7 Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 15,2010