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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDiscussion with Design Review Board regarding Charge and Purpose.pdf Commission Memorandum REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Chris Saunders, Interim Planning Director Chris Kukulski, City Manager SUBJECT: Discussion with the DRB on the purpose, scope, and Commission direction on their duties MEETING DATE: May 3, 2010 AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Action RECOMMENDATION: Conduct discussion among the Commissioners and the Design Review Board. BACKGROUND: The Design Review Board (DRB) is an advisory board who participates in the review of some, usually larger, development proposals in Bozeman. Their primary purpose is urban design. Their area of authority is limited by topic and physical location. They are solely an advisory board and have no final approval authority. The DRB uses the site plan and planned unit development criteria of Chapters 18.34 and 18.36, BMC as well as the design guidelines adopted by the Commission for the Entryway Overlay District (Design Objective Plan) and the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation and the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District) as the criteria upon which they base their review. All the identified documents are available through the Planning Department website. Their recommendations are directed to the Planning Director, Board of Adjustment, or City Commission. The role of the DRB has evolved since its initial creation in the early 1990’s. The following excerpts from Title 18, Unified Development Ordinance, BMC describe the current purpose and role of the Design Review Board. From Section 18.62.010.A, Purpose of DRC, DRB, ADR, WRB, and BOA. “2. DRB. The DRB is established to evaluate aesthetic considerations of larger and more complex proposals which are likely to produce significant community impact and to provide recommendations regarding such proposals to the Planning Director or City Commission, subject to the provisions of this title. a. The DRB shall act as an advisory body to the Planning Director for site plans within overlay districts meeting one or more of the thresholds of §18.34.040.C, BMC when no variance or deviation is requested; and 135 b. The DRB shall act as an advisory body to the City Commission or Board of Adjustment regarding: (1) Site plans within overlay districts meeting one or more of the thresholds of §18.34.040.C, BMC when variances or deviations are requested; (2) Conditional use permits located within overlay districts, but excluding conditional use permits for the purpose of accessory dwelling units and conditional use permits which do not create additional building area; (3) Planned unit developments; (4) Appeals from ADR decisions; and (5) Review of applications for Large Scale Retail. c. The DRB may develop, and after adoption by the City Commission, apply specific guidelines related to such concerns as architectural appearance, landscape design and signage for the construction and/or alteration of structures, sites or areas; d. The DRB may review applicable development proposal applications for zoning text amendments, or applications for moving, demolition or any other kind of permit that may affect properties located within entryway corridors. e. The DRB has responsibility for projects subject to §18.34.040.C, BMC.” Further in the same section the composition of the DRB and required qualifications for membership are established. “C. Design Review Board Procedures Established. To implement this purpose, certain procedures shall be adopted to include, but not be limited to, a regularly scheduled weekly or biweekly meeting attended by members of the DRB. Written meeting reviews setting forth decisions and findings shall be made. These records shall be preserved as part of the official proceedings for each developmental proposal. Lastly, the DRB shall generally follow “Robert’s Rules of Order” and may prepare and adopt supplemental procedural rules, upon the approval of the City Commission, that will assure the accomplishment of the stated purpose and promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the design review process. 1. The DRB shall consist of six professional and two nonprofessional members. Professional members shall be degreed in their respective disciplines and/or otherwise licensed or certified by their respective professional authorities. An appointment to a term of service on the DRB is for two years. The professional contingent shall consist of three architects and at least one architectural historian, and at least one landscape architect or landscape designer. At least one of the professional members shall have demonstrated expertise in urban design. Nonprofessional members shall be individuals with an interest in, or knowledge of, urban design or historic preservation. No member of the DRB shall serve concurrently as a member of the Planning Board or Zoning Commission. A quorum of the DRB shall be four voting members and one of the members constituting the quorum must be an architect. In the event a quorum of the DRB may not otherwise be attained, the ADR staff may serve as alternates to prevent delay in project reviews. 2. In selecting the members, the City Commission shall give preference to residents of the City of Bozeman. However, where a qualified professional resident is not 136 available to serve, the City Commission may appoint a professional member who practices professionally, owns property or owns a business within the City. Where a nonprofessional resident is not available to serve, the City Commission may appoint a nonprofessional member who works, owns property or owns a business within the City.” Not all applications involving design review require the participation of the DRB. Smaller projects are assigned to the staff for review. The participation of the DRB in the review process is usually when a proposal meets one or more of the following specific standards. The staff may choose to consult with the DRB when they believe it necessary. These review thresholds were changed in 2004 to expand the scope of projects which could be reviewed directly by the staff. The DRB is also specifically assigned to participate in review of Large Scale Retail (big box) and planned unit development proposals anywhere within Bozeman. 18.34.040 REVIEW AUTHORITY “C. Site Plan Design Review Thresholds. When a development is subject to design review and meets one or more of the following thresholds the Design Review Board shall have responsibility for conducting the design review. 1. Twenty or more dwelling units in a multiple household structure or structures; 2. Thirty thousand or more square feet of office space, retail commercial space, service commercial space or industrial space; 3. More than two buildings on one site for permitted office uses, permitted retail commercial uses, permitted service commercial uses, permitted industrial uses or permitted combinations of uses; 4. Twenty thousand or more square feet of exterior storage of materials or goods; or 5. Parking for more than sixty vehicles.” The review of a project by DRB is integrated into the existing development review process. They have regularly scheduled meetings on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Formal minutes of each meeting are taken by the Planning administrative staff. Minutes are included with any transmittal to the final approval body. The comments and recommendations of the DRB are included in the staff report on a development proposal which is provided to the final approval body. UNRESOLVED ISSUES: This agenda item is for discussion purposes and no specific action is required. ALTERNATIVES: This agenda item is for discussion purposes and no specific action is required. FISCAL EFFECTS: This agenda item is for discussion purposes and no specific action is required. No fiscal effects are expected from this item. Attachments: None Report compiled on: April 28, 2010 137