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City staff brief board on new Single Family Streamlining Ordinance; key triggers, exemptions and process changes explained
Summary
Staff trained the Single Family Design Board on the new Single Family Streamlining Ordinance (adopted April 21, effective May 28), explaining higher mailed‑notice thresholds, scope‑based SFDB triggers, new exemptions, and that Project Design Approval will be the board’s single discretionary action while final approvals move to staff.
City planning staff on May 18 briefed the Single Family Design Board on the Single Family Streamlining Ordinance adopted April 21 and effective May 28, outlining how the revised code will change what projects the board reviews and what materials applicants must submit.
Ted Hamilton, the design review supervisor, told the board that the new ordinance consolidates design review chapters into a single code chapter and shifts SFDB triggers from a location basis to a scope‑of‑work basis. He said mailed‑notice thresholds will rise — for example, staff will increase the first‑story addition mailed‑notice threshold from 500 to 800 square feet and the second‑story threshold from 150 to 250 square feet — and described exemptions for certain one‑story additions, accessory buildings and architecturally consistent alterations.
Hamilton also explained procedural changes: Project Design Approval (PDA) will be the board’s only discretionary action for many design projects, eliminating the SFDB final public hearing and moving final approval review to staff at the building permit stage unless staff refers a final back to the board. He told members applicants can submit building permit applications "at risk" after PDA without director approval, but final permits cannot be issued until the 10‑day appeal period passes. Hamilton said the office will publish an updated PDA submittal checklist and a set of handouts on May 28 and that staff will host a public webinar about implementation on May 20 at 9 a.m.
Board members asked for clarity about staff authority on "substantial conformance" at plan check, thresholds for what the staff would deem "controversial," and whether FAR exception findings had changed. Staff said the FAR exception findings remain materially the same but the review authority for FAR exceptions (including projects exceeding 100% FAR) now rests with SFDB; staff also said they will provide objective checklists and guidance so plan reviewers can identify changes that would "noticeably alter the public’s perception" of an approved design and refer such cases back to the board.
Staff emphasized the goal of front‑loading information at PDA — color and material boards, lighting, and supplemental visual aids — so that projects requiring a single hearing can be decided more efficiently. The board expressed support for the consolidated guidance and requested the updated checklists and triggers be posted promptly so applicants can determine whether a project will require SFDB review.
