Amador County – Amador County Supervisors last week discussed its draft “design review guidelines” ordinance, which included a suggestion to have historic areas help define separate design areas.
Supervisor Vice Chairman Louis Boitano suggested the change, saying all cities have design review guidelines, and Supervisors may want to think about historic areas around the county that need preservation, and then designate design review guidelines for those areas.
Foothill Conservancy supported adding wineries and vineyards to the design guideline areas, along with Sutter Creek-area gold mines. Sutter Gold Mining corporation is working to open several of the mines in that area, and has closed the Sutter mine to underground tours. Boitano said it was both a historic area and an industrial area.
Supervisor Chairman John Plasse agreed with Boitano, but he was unsure if other jurisdictions designate separate design areas, rather than having county-wide design guidelines.
Planner Nathan Lishman said the county could start by using its “Town Center” designations that are listed in the draft General Plan update. He said there are still areas that need to be addressed, like the Sutter Creek gold mining areas. He said design review guidelines would help address proposed policies for design areas.
Boitano said design review areas need to be fixed. He said 13 acres of land in his family trust property all falls in Sutter Creek’s “Historic District.” He said they cannot build on the ridge tops, and asked: “Are they going to reimburse me for the take?”
Plasse said if they put something into place, people still have the appeals process, and he asked Lishman about outside parties’ ability to appeal. Deputy County Counsel Greg Gillott said “almost any decision or interpretation by staff can be appealed,” by the applicant, staff or the public.
County Planner Susan Grijalva said that was correct, and any interpretation staff makes is appeal-able. Plasse said the city of Jackson was facing such an instance in the remodel of the National Hotel, when a third party appealed the use of non-wood window frames. He said: “They weren’t wood. They just looked like wood.”
Supervisor Ted Novelli read a letter from Planning Commissioner Denise Tober, who could not attend. Tober said said studies show that well-planned communities attract business. She said they need the guideline outline to clearly state “how we want the county to look without being oppressive.”
Tober “it should factor in nicely with Town Centers in the General Plan.” She urged supervisors to “act now” because structures in some areas in the county that have formerly been considered “quaint” are “quickly becoming dilapidated junks.” She also urged that wineries and tasting rooms be included in the guidelines.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
