Chapter 24.545

DESIGN REVIEW PROCEDURE[2 ]

Sections:

• 24.545.010 Chapter description. 24.545.020 Design review required. 24.545.030 Review process. 24.545.040 Limitations on design review. 24.545.100 Required Kndings. 24.545.110 Conditions of approval.

The San Buenaventura Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2026-005, passed February 17, 2026.

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2 Editor’s note(s): Section 74 of Ord. No. 2021-017 , adopted December 13, 2021, amended Chapter 24.545 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Chapter 24.545 pertained to the same subject matter, consisted of Sections 24.545.010 through 24.545.160, and derived from the 1971 Code; Ord. No. 2000-04, adopted January 24, 2000; and Ord. No. 2004-015, adopted July 26, 2004.

This chapter hereby establishes the design review procedure to:

A. Recognize the interdependence of land values and aesthetics and provide a method by which the city may implement this interdependence to its beneYt;

B. Encourage the orderly and harmonious appearance of structures and property within the city along with associated facilities, such as signs, landscaping, parking areas, and streets;

C. Maintain the public health, safety, and general welfare, and property and improvement values throughout the city;

D. Assist private and public developments in evaluating and implementing public concerns for the aesthetics of developments;

E. Reasonably ensure that new development does not have an adverse aesthetic, health, safety, or architecturally related impact upon existing adjoining properties, or the city in general;

F. Foster attainment of goals, objectives, policies, and programs of the comprehensive plan by preserving and enhancing the particular character and unique assets of the city, and providing for harmonious development through encouraging private and public interests to assist in the implementation process; and

• G. Otherwise further the purposes of this zoning ordinance. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 74, 12-13-21)

Design review approval is required prior to any human-made change to improved or unimproved real property, including, but not limited to, construction of structures, paving, grading, landscaping, and signage, unless otherwise provided in this chapter. Such changes shall be considered development for the purposes of this chapter. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 74, 12-13-21)

A. Design review shall be categorized as major design review, minor design review or historic design review. An application for major, minor, or historic design review shall require a complete application and payment of fees by

The San Buenaventura Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2026-005, passed February 17, 2026.

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the property owner or agent and shall be reviewed and acted upon by the director pursuant to Section 24.500.060, except that minor design review may be administratively approved by the director without notice or hearing.

1. Major Design Review. Major design review shall be required for development that adds Yve or more residential units, new nonresidential structures greater than or equal to 2,000 square feet of gross area, or additions to existing nonresidential structures greater than or equal to a 25 percent increase in the square footage or lot coverage of an existing nonresidential structure. Development subject to this subsection shall be referred to the design review committee (DRC) for a recommendation to the decision-making authority at a noticed public hearing.

2. Minor Design Review. Unless speciYcally exempted by Section 24.545.040, all other development that does not qualify for major design review shall require minor design review, including, but not limited to:

   • a. Development that adds three or four residential units, new nonresidential structures less than 2,000 square feet of gross area, or additions to existing nonresidential structures less than a 25 percent increase in the square footage or lot coverage of an existing nonresidential structure.

   • b. Facade changes, including change of color, paint, windows, awnings.

   • c. Site and landscape modiYcations.

   • d. New or modiYed fences and walls.

   • e. Lighting improvements, including ground- and building-mounted Yxtures.

   • f. All signs and sign programs.

   • g. Screening enclosures for equipment, storage, trash, and similar items.

   • h. Outdoor dining areas or enclosures.

   • i. Minor changes pursuant to Section 24.570.090.

The director may forward any minor design review application to the design review committee for a recommendation. A referral of a minor design review application to the design review committee shall be placed on a meeting agenda but shall not require notice or a public hearing.

Any minor design review project that the director determines is likely to have signiYcant public interest due to scope, location or any other issue, shall be required to provide mailed notice, posted notice and pay applicable fees consistent with Section 24.560.040(B) and (C), prior to any administrative action.

The director shall include any prior improvements that resulted in the addition of units or nonresidential building area over the past 24 months when determining whether a project qualiYes as major or minor design review.

For purposes of this section, any type of accessory dwelling unit shall not count as a unit for the determination of major or minor design review.

The San Buenaventura Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2026-005, passed February 17, 2026.

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3. Historic Design Review. Development on a property within or immediately adjacent to a designated historic district (HD) overlay zone, alterations or additions to a designated historic landmark, a property identiYed as eligible in a historic resources survey adopted by the city council, or a contributor to a designated HD overlay zone, new construction adjacent to a designated historic landmark, or a]ecting a potential historic resource as determined by the director, shall require historic design review. The historic design review process will be based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties:

   • a. Pursuant to Section 24.430.040, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) a]ecting an identiYed or potential historic resource shall require minor design review.

   • b. All other development, alterations or additions the director determines may have an impact on an identiYed or potential historic resource shall be referred to the historic preservation committee (HPC) for a recommendation to the decision-making authority at a noticed public hearing.

B. Design review approval may be required by the decision-making authority as a condition of any permit or other approval granted pursuant to this title. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 74, 12-13-21)

A. The decision-making authority for projects or uses requiring no other discretionary permits or approvals shall not consider the operation or appropriateness of land uses if such uses of land comply with applicable zoning district regulations as a part of the design review action.

• B. Exemptions. Development associated with the following is exempt from design review in all cases:

  1. Single-family and two-family residential properties, except as required by Section 24.545.030(A)(3);

  2. Accessory dwelling units, except as required by Section 24.545.030(A)(3)(a);

  3. Site, landscaping or structural aspects of:

     • a. Temporary uses allowed by Chapter 24.120;

     • b. Farmers’ market, certiYed;

     • c. Mobile homes;

     • d. Animal husbandry, apiculture, crop production, horticulture, produce sales on agriculturally zoned properties.

  4. Repair, or repainting, of conforming structures to match previously permitted conditions;

  5. Resurfacing of paved areas to match previously permitted conditions;

The San Buenaventura Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2026-005, passed February 17, 2026.

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6. Replanting of landscaping to match previously permitted conditions;

7. Changes to the interior design or layouts of buildings or other structures unless the director determines a publicly visible exterior is signiYcantly a]ected by the change;

8. Development that is exempted by state law from local design review;

9. Any development the director determines is de minimis. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 74, 12-13-21)

Prior to granting an approval of an application for design review, the decision-making authority must make all of the following Yndings:

A. The design and layout of the proposed development is consistent with the applicable elements of the general plan or comprehensive plan and any adopted city-wide design criteria or design criteria for specialized areas, such as designated historic districts, theme areas, planned developments, or speciYc plans that the project is located in;

B. The design and layout of the proposed development will accommodate the functions and activities that are proposed for the property, will not unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of neighboring, existing, or future developments;

C. The site, architectural, and landscape design of the proposed development is reasonably compatible with the character of the surrounding neighborhood and all reasonable design e]orts have been made to maintain the harmonious, orderly, and attractive development contemplated by this zoning ordinance and the general plan or comprehensive plan;

D. The design of the proposed development would provide a desirable environment for its occupants and visiting public as well as its neighbors and that it is aesthetically of good composition, materials, texture, and color that will remain aesthetically appealing with the level of maintenance and upkeep that might reasonably be expected of the occupants. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 74, 12-13-21)

Pursuant to Section 24.500.060, the decision-making authority may impose such conditions which may involve any factors a]ecting the colors, materials, articulation, massing, design, landscaping, signs, or other architectural features of a project. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 74, 12-13-21)

The San Buenaventura Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2026-005, passed February 17, 2026.

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