Red Bluff Municipal Code Art. I General Provisions

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

BUILDING OFFICIAL. The Building Official of the city, his or her assistant or other person authorized by him or her, pursuant to law, to act in his or her stead.

• COMMISSION. The Planning Commission.

• COMMISSIONER. A member of the Planning Commission.

• COUNCIL. The City Council.

PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENT. All exterior ornamental or functional features, including, but not limited to:

(1) Drainage modifications;

(2) Removal of vegetation;

(3) Grading;

(4) Construction or installation of walls or fencing;

(5) Landscaping;

(6) Installation of exterior lighting;

(7) Construction or installation of walks, drives, curbs or aprons;

(8) Painting; and

(9) Signs.

PLANS. Those items, architectural plans, elevations, sections and the like, as required by this chapter to be submitted for review by the Commission.

SCHEMATIC. Those narratives, sketches and drawings for a proposed structure or physical improvement, which precedes preliminary and final working drawings.

STRUCTURES. All buildings and structures which by code require a building permit.

(`61 Code, § 7.1) (Ord. 658, passed 12-2-1980; Am. Ord. 676, passed 11-3-1981)

The City Council finds and declares:

(A) (1) The city is a city with unique characteristics, fine examples of Victorian architectural design, plus dynamic natural features.

(2) It is these characteristics which attract a significant number of visitors to the city and which enhance the quality of life of the permanent residents.

(B) All of these factors constitute an important economic base for the city.

(C) The appearance of buildings, structures and the land, as visible from public streets, places and ways, has a material and substantial relationship to property values and the taxable value of property in the city.

(D) To protect the economic welfare of the community, it is the policy of the City Council to protect, maintain and enhance the social and economic values created by past and present investments in the community by requiring all future development to respect these traditions and require that all buildings and structures placed on the land respect the natural land forms and become a compatible part of the total community environment.

(E) The policy will be furthered by assigning to the Planning Commission the task of developing appropriate standards and guidelines for the use of persons planning future development and advising and assisting developers, the Technical Advisory Committee and other city staff in applying the standards.

(`61 Code, § 7.2) (Ord. 658, passed 12-2-1980; Am. Ord. 768, passed 9-2-1986; Am. Ord. 846, passed 8-4-1992)

The purpose of this chapter is:

(A) To recognize the interdependence of land values and aesthetics, to provide a method by which the city may implement this interdependence to its benefit and to the benefit of its individual citizens;

(B) To preserve and enhance the beauty and environmental amenities of the city by:

(1) Stimulating creative design;

(2) Encouraging the innovative use of materials, methods and techniques; and

(3) Preserving or enhancing a balance and harmony within neighborhoods.

(C) To promote and protect the safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity and general welfare of the citizens of the city by:

(1) Preserving the positive aspects and enhancing the natural beauties of the land and of the manmade environment and the enjoyment thereof; and

(2) Maintaining and improving the qualities of physical developments in a manner as to best contribute to the amenities and attractiveness of the city.

(`61 Code, § 7.3) (Ord. 658, passed 12-2-1980)

(`61 Code, § 7.4) (Ord. 658, passed 12-2-1980; Am. Ord. 676, passed 11-3-1981; Am. Ord. 846, passed 8-4-1992)

(A) The Planning Commission shall administer the provisions of this chapter in a manner which will:

(1) Develop and maintain a pleasant and harmonious environment;

(2) Promote and enhance real property values;

(3) Preserve and enhance the distinctive visual character of the city;

(4) Insure the orderly and harmonious development of the city with attention to site planning and exterior appearance of public and private structures.

(B) (1) The Commission shall establish appropriate standards and guidelines for the use of persons planning future development which are subject to design review. The standards and guidelines may be set forth in pictorial and/or narrative form and may illustrate undesirable as well as desirable examples of design. A document containing the standards and guidelines shall be available for public reference in the Planning Department and Building Department. The Commission shall periodically review these standards and guidelines and may make appropriate amendments. The Commission shall provide interpretations to the guidelines upon written request.

(2) The Commission shall make itself available to advise and assist both developers and city staff in the application of its standards and guidelines to projects during schematic and development stages.

(3) The Commission shall review an application for a use permit, variance or rezone when, in the opinion of the Technical Advisory Commission, the application may create an architectural impact contrary to the objectives of this chapter.

(4) The Commission shall review physical development projects at the request of the City Council, city commissions and Technical Advisory Committee, the developer or the property owner.

(5) The Commission shall hear appeals to decisions made by the Technical Advisory Committee.

(C) (1) The Commission shall adopt a procedures document and design criteria which sets forth the procedures and criteria for design review. The document shall be published and dated and shall be approved by the City Council by resolution.

(2) A copy of the current procedures document shall be maintained in the Office of the City Clerk. Copies shall be available to the general public. The procedures and design criteria may consist of more than one document.

(D) The City Council shall adopt applicable fees for design review, the fees to be fixed by resolution and to be in an amount equal to the cost of processing design review applications.

(`61 Code, § 7.5) (Ord. 658, passed 12-2-1980; Am. Ord. 768, passed 9-2-1986; Am. Ord. 846, passed 8-4-1992)

(A) All projects within the city which require a permit from the Building Department must conform to the standards in this chapter, except as noted otherwise in this section.

(B) Review by the Technical Advisory Committee or Design Review Subcommittee of the Technical Advisory Committee, is required for all projects which require a building, sign, demolition or grading permit from the city, except as noted otherwise in this section.

(C) Unless specifically required by the Technical Advisory Committee or the Design Review Subcommittee of the Technical Advisory Committee, design review is not required for the following projects:

(1) Reroofing;

(2) New detached single-family dwelling;

(3) Mobile home installations, except as noted in § 7.9;

(4) Signs exempted herein, except painted signs described herein; and

(5) Interior alterations and construction.

(D) The Technical Advisory Committee or the design review subcommittee of the Technical Advisory Committee shall also review all city-financed projects including, but not limited to municipal buildings, parks and open spaces and street furniture.

(`61 Code, § 7.6) (Ord. 658, passed 12-2-1980; Am. Ord. 706, passed 12-21-1982; Am. Ord. 768, passed 9-2-1986; Am. Ord. 846, passed 8-4-1992)

(A) The applicant may file an appeal to the Planning Commission on any decision of the Technical Advisory Committee relating to the design review process within ten working days of the date of the letter notifying the applicant of the Technical Advisory Committee’s decision.

(B) Appeals to the Planning Commission shall set forth in detail in writing alleged inconsistencies of nonconformity with procedures or criteria set forth in or pursuant to this code. A Planning Commission meeting and public hearing shall be held at least ten days after publication of notice of the hearing. The Planning Commission shall make its findings and conclusions no later than 45 days after the filing of the appeal.

(C) The applicant may file an appeal to the City Council on any ruling of the Planning Commission relating to the design review process within ten working days of the Commission’s action.

(D) Appeals to the City Council shall set forth in detail in writing alleged inconsistencies of nonconformity with procedures or criteria set forth in or pursuant to this code. A public hearing shall be held at the next regular Council meeting held at least ten days after publication of notice of the public hearing. The City Council shall make its findings and conclusions no later than 45 days after the filing of the appeal.

(`61 Code, § 7.7) (Ord. 658, passed 12-2-1980; Am. Ord. 768, passed 9-2-1986; Am. Ord. 846, passed 8-4-1992)

(A) (1) In addition to any other fines, penalties or enforcement provisions set forth in this chapter, failure to comply in any respect with an approved design or the provisions of this chapter shall constitute grounds for an immediate stoppage of the work involved in the noncompliance until the matter is resolved.

(2) An occupancy permit shall not be issued in part or whole for any building or group of buildings subject to design review unless and until the work specified in the design review approval has been completed.

(B) (1) In any case wherein demolition or removal of any existing structure requires design review approval, the demolition or removal shall be completed and all debris removed from the site, within the specified period of days designated in the design review approval or the entire design review approval, shall be deemed to have expired.

(2) Unless the Planning Commission designates a different time period, applications automatically expire in 120 days. Unless the Planning Commission designates a different time period, approval for projects which have not been completed and approved by the city shall expire in one year. City staff can extend applications and approvals provided a valid and reasonable need exists. The Planning Commission can extend applications and approvals.

(C) The Building Official may approve minor modifications of the approved design at any time if he or she finds that there has been no substantial change in the factual circumstances surrounding the originally approved design.

(`61 Code, § 7.8) (Ord. 658, passed 12-2-1980; Am. Ord. 676, passed 11-3-1981; Am. Ord. 768, passed 9-2-1986; Am. Ord. 846, passed 8-4-1992)

To the extent that the laws of the state permit design review of mobile homes installations in residential districts, mobile homes installed in R zones in the city must comply with the standards set forth in this chapter.

(`61 Code, § 7.9) (Ord. 658, passed 12-2-1980; Am. Ord. 768, passed 9-2-1986)