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Planning commission backs merged Design Review/Cultural Heritage board; recommends council appoint members and add training
Summary
City planning staff briefed the Design Review Board on a proposal to merge the Design Review Board and the Cultural Heritage Board, add a definition of “qualified professional” for historic analyses and have the full city council appoint members; Planning Commission supported those recommendations and asked for training prioritization.
City planning staff told the Design Review Board Wednesday that the Planning Commission supported earlier board recommendations to revise the landmark-alteration process and merge the city’s Cultural Heritage Board and Design Review Board.
Roberto, a planning staff member, summarized the changes staff brought forward: the Planning Commission supported adding a definition of “qualified professional” as it relates to authors of historic analyses, and recommended that future appointments to the merged board be made by the full City Council rather than by individual council members. Planning staff also recommended prioritizing training for board members. Roberto said the item is scheduled to go to the City Council for consideration.
Planning staff described proposed membership requirements for the merged board: four required positions — two architects, one landscape designer or architect, and one historic preservationist — plus three at-large members. Staff told the board that, if the Council adopts the change, existing Cultural Heritage Board and Design Review Board members would be asked to reapply to form the initial merged board; after that, vacancies would be filled by an application, interview by the full council and appointment at a council meeting.
Planning staff discussed timing for Council consideration and implementation. Staff said a first reading of the council policy change was scheduled for Feb. 4 with a likely second reading at a subsequent meeting; if adopted, changes would generally take effect 30 days after the second reading. Planning staff advised board members with questions about reapplication or appointment timelines to contact the City Clerk for specifics.
Board members asked whether appointments would preserve any geographic distribution; staff responded that current practice does not require board members to reside in any particular district and that the council policy change would not create such a requirement. Staff also said the change to a full-council appointment would be implemented by amending the council policy that defines appointment procedures.
No formal action was taken by the Design Review Board on the merger at Wednesday’s concept review; the item will be forwarded to the City Council for policy action. Planning staff said they will return with the formal council-policy amendment if the Council proceeds, and noted that training and definition details would be fleshed out during the council process.
