At its meeting on June 3rd, the City Council will consider updates to the city’s Design Guidelines, which provide a framework for actions of staff and the Planning Commission in making decisions regarding planning applications from residents. During this meeting, the City Council will receive a presentation from staff, take testimony from the public, engage in a discussion, and consider adoption of the updated Design Guidelines.
Background
In April 2018, the Planning Commission appointed a subcommittee comprised of two commissioners, City staff and planning consultants to draft updates to the Design Guidelines, which were originally adopted in 1988. At the end of March 2019 the subcommittee completed its work and draft updated Guidelines were posted on the City’s website. The Planning Commission considered the document during its meetings of April 8 and May 13, at which the Commissioners unanimously voted to recommend that the City Council adopt the updated Design Guidelines.
This project to update and reformat the City of Piedmont Design Guidelines is the fifth and final phase of policy updates undertaken in response to the adoption of the General Plan in 2009 and the Housing Element in 2011. The first four phases were related to revisions of City Code Chapter 17 (the Zoning Ordinance) and were completed between 2012 and 2017. Specifically, Action 28.E in the Design and Preservation Element of the 2009 General Plan calls for the City’s Design Guidelines to be updated.
Draft updated Design Guidelines
In addition to updating and reformatting the guidelines for single-family residential construction, the draft update includes new guidelines specific to multi-family residential construction, commercial and mixed-use construction commercial signage, and landscaping. A chapter that includes design guidelines for wireless communication facilities will be added at a future date.
The draft Design Guidelines are available on the City’s website at www.ci.piedmont.ca.us/design-guidelines-update/. Printed copies are available for viewing at the Public Works counter in City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue.
Public Engagement
Public comment is invited throughout the process. Interested members of the public are encouraged to read the draft Design Guidelines and staff report, and attend the City Council meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Monday, June 3, 2019 in City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue.
For questions on the contents of the Design Guidelines, please contact Planning Director Kevin Jackson at kjackson@piedmont.ca.gov or (510) 420-3039.
If you wish to write to the City Council regarding the proposed updated Design Guidelines, please send an email to citycouncil@piedmont.ca.gov or send a letter to Piedmont City Council, c/o City Clerk’s office 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611.