Rohnert Park Municipal Code Art. III Site Plan and Architectural Review

The regulations contained in this section are intended to:

A. Establish procedures for the approval, conditional approval, or disapproval of designs for new or modified site plans, structures, and signs when required by this chapter; and

B. Establish findings to allow for the approval of projects that would be complementary to and harmonious with developments on adjacent properties and in the surrounding area.

C. Prohibit ugly, inharmonious, and monotonous designs while encouraging originality in architecture, site design, and landscape design.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

A. Planning commission review of site and architectural plans shall be required for the following uses and/or structures:

1. Any new site plan or building proposed in a residential district that is greater than one hundred twenty-eight square feet in size, except for single-family homes that are consistent with the architecture and design standards of the surrounding area as determined by the planning and community development director;

2. Any new site plan or building proposed in a commercial district that is greater than two hundred fifty square feet in size and which would be visible from the public right-of-way;

3. Any new site plan or building proposed in an industrial district that is greater than five hundred square feet in size and which would be visible from the public right-of-way; and

4. An existing site plan or building for which exterior remodeling is proposed that would significantly change the configuration of the site or the outward appearance of the building.

B. The planning and community development director, or his/her designee, shall review the application to determine the level of review required, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The planning and community development director, or his/her designee, shall review all projects under the criteria presented above to determine conformance with the provisions of this title.

C. The planning and community development director or the city council may refer any matter concerning aesthetic site planning or design consideration to the planning commission for review.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

Applications for site plan and architectural review shall include the following:

A. The application form provided by the city, which must be signed by the property owner or authorized agent of the property owner, the applicant, and any other party involved as a contingent buyer or lessee.

B. The required plans and other documentation pertaining to the application, including:

1. Site plan to scale indicating the location and configuration of all buildings and proposed uses including setbacks from property lines, parking spaces and circulation, fencing, street improvements, fire hydrants, refuse and waste areas, proposed grading and drainage, and other significant site features. The site plan shall include computations on the number and types of parking spaces, amounts of usable open space or interior yard area, and lot area coverage. Commercial and industrial developments shall include floor area ratio (FAR) calculations, net and gross lot area, and shall identify the square footage and location of all easements on the project site.

2. A complete project summary including a description of all activities proposed for the site.

3. Building floor plan(s) of sufficient clarity and scale to indicate the nature and extent of the proposal and to illustrate in detail that it will conform to the provisions of all relevant laws, codes, ordinances, rules, and regulations.

4. Building elevations of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature of the exterior appearance of the proposal and its relationship to its surroundings.

C. Depending on the complexity of the application, additional materials such as presentation illustrations, three-dimensional models, or photometric analysis may be required by the planning department. Smaller scale projects may have certain submittal requirements waived at the discretion of the planning and community development director or his/her designee.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

A. For nonresidential projects, factors that shall be considered in the approval, conditional approval or denial of a site plan and architectural review application include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. That the development's general appearance is compatible with existing development and enhances the surrounding neighborhood;

2. That the development incorporates a variation from adjacent on-site and off-site structures in height, bulk, and area; arrangement on the parcel; openings or breaks in the facade facing the street; and/or the line and pitch of the roof; and

3. That the development will be located and oriented in such a manner so as to provide pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle connections with adjacent properties, as appropriate, and avoids indiscriminate location and orientation.

B. For projects with a residential component, the approval, conditional approval, or denial of a site plan and architectural review application shall be made based on the following finding:

1. That the proposed development is consistent with the objective standards and regulations of the city's general plan, municipal code, and any applicable specific plan or area plan, and the objective design and development standards as included in this code or adopted by resolution, as may be amended from time to time.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

(Ord. No. 991, § 4(Exh. A, § 36), 1-27-2026)

A. If an application is disapproved, then no new application for the same, or substantially the same, project shall be filed within one year of the date of the denial of the initial application, unless the application is denied without prejudice.

B. The decision of the planning commission shall become final ten calendar days after the decision is rendered, unless appealed to the city council as set forth in Chapter 17.25 Article XII.

C. The decision of the planning and community development director, or his/her designee, shall become final ten calendar days after the decision is rendered, unless appealed to the planning commission as set forth in Chapter 17.25 Article XII.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

A. A site plan and architectural review approval shall lapse two years after the date of final approval or at an alternative date specified at the time of approval, unless:

1. A building permit has been issued and construction has diligently commenced; or

2. A certificate of occupancy has been issued; or

3. The use is established; or

4. The site plan and architectural review approval is renewed in accordance with subsection B below.

5. The project is a residential development that does not require the approval of a tentative subdivision map, or otherwise not vested through a development agreement with the city, then the approval shall expire after a twenty-four-month period, unless extended for special circumstances by the city council.

B. A site plan and architectural review approval may be renewed for an additional period of one year, provided that prior to the expiration date, an application for renewal is filed with the planning division. The department services director or their designee may approve an extension request or may refer the application to the planning commission for hearing, consideration, and determination.

C. The planning commission shall not deny the renewal request without first holding a public hearing and making findings supporting the reason for denial. If the planning commission denies the renewal request, the applicant shall have ten calendar days to appeal the decision to the city council as set forth in Chapter 17.25, Article XII.

(Ord. 695 § 3, 2003)

(Ord. No. 991, § 4(Exh. A, § 37), 1-27-2026)