Amador County – The Plymouth Planning Commission Wednesday was scheduled to discuss the make-up of a city Architecture Committee, which has been tabled for about a year. Community Development Director Barry Siebe in a report said city staff, directed by the Planning Commission and the public in 2008 and 2009 drafted “Design Guidelines for the Downtown Plymouth area.” In November 2008, the commission council adoption, for which a public hearing was held in April of 2009, and the document was sent back to the commission for revision. Siebe said: “Staff has attempted to ascertain all of the comments from the city council, including review of the written minutes and review of the recorded tapes of the meeting,” but the minutes were “limited in detail, and the majority of the taped discussion is missing.” He said the “record as it exists does reveal some discussion regarding the make-up of the Architectural Committee and concerns from the city attorney about members of the planning commission or city council being conflicted out of the appeal process if they sat on the committee for a decision that was appealed.” Siebe said city staffing changes have allowed the issue to fall by the wayside. The work was held in the transition from council to commission and with staff changes, when the city planner’s contract was not renewed, and the council hired Siebe as its first on-staff community development director. The commission asked for the Architecture Committee issue to be brought back to them for reconsideration, and it has “been over a year since it was seen by the council.” He said the commission Wednesday likely would have a general discussion of the issue. Siebe said council discussion included having architectural industry professionals on the committee, but raised the question of whether they would be paid or volunteer. If they get to the point where they want to make recommendations for the council to take action, Siebe said he would initiate the public hearing process. He said “it had been kind of languishing for some time,” and Wednesday’s meeting would be informal, with no action, because that would require the public hearing process. The report said “no annotated or detailed summary of the council recommended changes has been found.” Siebe recommended the commission “review and discuss design guidelines and staff comments, and provide direction to staff.” Draft guidelines “would provide design review authority for projects inside the downtown area,” including site planning, architectural character, landscaping, streets, parking, access, outdoor retail sales and signs. Past work included a draft amendment to city zoning code, applying to development of parcels in the existing “Downtown Overlay District.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thursday, 03 June 2010 06:08
Plymouth Commission Expected to Discuss Architect Committee
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Amador County – The Plymouth Planning Commission Wednesday was scheduled to discuss the make-up of a city Architecture Committee, which has been tabled for about a year. Community Development Director Barry Siebe in a report said city staff, directed by the Planning Commission and the public in 2008 and 2009 drafted “Design Guidelines for the Downtown Plymouth area.” In November 2008, the commission council adoption, for which a public hearing was held in April of 2009, and the document was sent back to the commission for revision. Siebe said: “Staff has attempted to ascertain all of the comments from the city council, including review of the written minutes and review of the recorded tapes of the meeting,” but the minutes were “limited in detail, and the majority of the taped discussion is missing.” He said the “record as it exists does reveal some discussion regarding the make-up of the Architectural Committee and concerns from the city attorney about members of the planning commission or city council being conflicted out of the appeal process if they sat on the committee for a decision that was appealed.” Siebe said city staffing changes have allowed the issue to fall by the wayside. The work was held in the transition from council to commission and with staff changes, when the city planner’s contract was not renewed, and the council hired Siebe as its first on-staff community development director. The commission asked for the Architecture Committee issue to be brought back to them for reconsideration, and it has “been over a year since it was seen by the council.” He said the commission Wednesday likely would have a general discussion of the issue. Siebe said council discussion included having architectural industry professionals on the committee, but raised the question of whether they would be paid or volunteer. If they get to the point where they want to make recommendations for the council to take action, Siebe said he would initiate the public hearing process. He said “it had been kind of languishing for some time,” and Wednesday’s meeting would be informal, with no action, because that would require the public hearing process. The report said “no annotated or detailed summary of the council recommended changes has been found.” Siebe recommended the commission “review and discuss design guidelines and staff comments, and provide direction to staff.” Draft guidelines “would provide design review authority for projects inside the downtown area,” including site planning, architectural character, landscaping, streets, parking, access, outdoor retail sales and signs. Past work included a draft amendment to city zoning code, applying to development of parcels in the existing “Downtown Overlay District.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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