Commission asks staff to propose time limits or transfer of historic‑district design review to reduce delays
Summary
Commissioners said historic‑district design review can take too long and asked staff to recommend options—time limits for Historic Sites and Records Preservation Commission review or transferring design review authority to the Planning Commission—to speed project timelines.
Commissioners raised concern that historic preservation design review has caused lengthy delays for some applicants and asked staff to propose procedural changes.
The Historic Sites and Records Preservation Commission currently reviews design matters for contributing structures in the gold‑rush historic district; staff noted existing code requires the design committee to formulate recommendations within 14 days in some instances but commissioners recounted cases where review waited months and held up development permits. One commissioner suggested moving design review authority into the Planning Commission (which meets regularly) or otherwise imposing specific turnaround times for design review to avoid multi‑month delays.
Staff said the current Historic Sites and Records Preservation Commission is a codified advisory body with a role in record‑keeping and design review; staff will present options for the Board of Supervisors, including (a) setting explicit time frames in code, (b) transferring design‑review authority to the Planning Commission or (c) retaining the commission but creating a faster procedural path for routine design matters. No code change was adopted; staff were directed to prepare recommendations for the Board and draft code language where appropriate.
