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CCP218 DRC Scope of ReviewCITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO COUNCIL POLICY Subject: Effective Policy Page Date Number DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE’S SCOPE OF REVIEW 1 of 3 4/2/19 218 PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to set forth the scope of project review performed by the City’s Design Review Committee. BACKGROUND The City’s Design Review Committee (DRC) serves an important advisory role in the processing of development applications by helping to ensure that projects are designed in a manner that is aesthetically pleasing and consistent with the unique architectural character of the City. To reduce lengthy processing times and costs to project applicants, the City Council directed staff on February 19, 2019 to take the necessary procedural steps to limit the scope of development applications for consideration by the DRC and limit the number of DRC reviews of a project to no more than one meeting, unless directed otherwise by the City Council or additional reviews are requested by an applicant. DUTIES OF THE DRC IDENTIFIED IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 2-2.1103, the duties of the DRC are to “review and make recommendations to development applicants on the design of projects for compliance with the goals and policies of the City’s General Plan Community Design Element and adopted architectural design guidelines and other policies regarding the design of projects that are processed in accordance with Title 9, Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 9-2.313 of the Municipal Code.” Section 9-2.313 identifies all the types of development projects that are subject to Architectural Control (AC) review and allows the Development Services Director to forward any AC application to the DRC upon his/her discretion. In addition, Title 9 of the City’s Municipal Code (the Land Use Code), and one provision of Title 8 (Building Regulations), give the City’s Development Services Director the discretion to refer the following development applications to the DRC for review: • Water Efficient Landscape Permits (SJCMC. § 8-20.04, subd. (d)); • Sign Permits and Sign Programs (§ 9-2.343, subd. (b)(1)); • Major and Minor Capital Improvement Projects (§ 9-2.337, subds. (d)(3)(b), (e)(3)(C)); • Architecture control review (§ 9-2.313, subd. (b)(4)); • Minor modifications to colors, windows, doors, landscape palettes, signage, lighting and other design features (§ 9-2.303(a)(4)); CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO COUNCIL POLICY Subject: Effective Policy Page Date Number DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE’S SCOPE OF REVIEW 2 of 3 4/2/19 218 • Internally illuminated signs in the Town Center zoning district (§ 9-3.543, subd. (b)(6)(B)); • Lighting intensity of signs (§ 9-3.543, subd. (b)(6)(D)); • Tree Removal Permits (§ 9-2.349, subd. (d)(3)). Furthermore, Land Use Code Section 9-2.318 requires that the DRC review projects that require a Discretionary Use Permit. REDEFINED DRC SCOPE OF REVIEW The DRC’s scope of review shall be limited to the following types of projects: 1. Projects for which the City’s Municipal Code requires DRC review. 2. Projects for which a condition of approval requires DRC review. 3. Projects directed by the City Council to the DRC for review. 4. Projects for which the applicant requests DRC review. 5. Projects referred by the Development Services Director to the DRC for review, so long as the project meets at least one of the following descriptions: a. New construction of commercial, office, industrial, institutional, recreational, or other nonresidential development and/or use. b. Residential projects with a gross density of eight units per acre and/or that propose new construction of three or more dwelling units on a lot, parcel, or development site. c. Modifications to a previously approved development project which was originally subject to Architectural Control review which results in an expansion of such project by over ten percent of the gross floor area or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less. d. Conversion of a residential structure to a nonresidential use. e. Changes in the architectural design of an existing building located within the Town Center zoning district. CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO COUNCIL POLICY Subject: Effective Policy Page Date Number DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE’S SCOPE OF REVIEW 3 of 3 4/2/19 218 FREQUENCY OF DRC REVIEW Any project identified above that qualifies for DRC review shall only be reviewed by the DRC once unless otherwise directed by the City Council or additional reviews are requested by the project applicant.