Blythe — Design Review

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

Blythe’s Title 17 Zoning sets up a focused, downtown-centered design review program administered by a local Design Review Committee. Within the city’s designated downtown redevelopment review area, projects must be checked for conformance with the City’s Downtown Design Standards and Architectural Guidelines; outside those mapped areas, design decisions default to the underlying zoning and other processes. Design review is a planning layer, distinct from the California Building Standards Code.

What “Design Review” means in Blythe

• The City has a formal Design Review Committee whose stated purpose is to “provide an additional level of design review to the central business district” and to prevent structures or signs that are incompatible with the Downtown Design Standards and Architectural Guidelines. See §17.64.061 (purpose) and §17.64.060 (program reference) .
• The committee’s jurisdiction is operationalized through the Redevelopment Overlay Zone — D-O, which identifies review areas on the zoning map; within those areas, all new uses, new structures, changes of use, and exterior modifications require Design Review Committee approval to ensure adherence to the Downtown standards and guidelines. See §§17.06.060–17.06.064, especially §17.06.062 (manner of development) and §17.06.061 (purpose) .

Who decides, what they review, and when

• Decision-maker and makeup: The Design Review Committee includes five members: three members of the Downtown Implementation Advisory Committee (appointed by City Council), the City Manager, and the Planning Director; a nonvoting design professional may also participate. See §17.64.062 .
• Public meetings and actions: The Committee holds at least one publicly noticed meeting per year and adopts recommendations with a minimum of three concurring members. See §17.64.063 .
• Scope of review and submittals: For applications that affect the appearance of the downtown area (e.g., plot plans, conditional use permits, public use permits, subdivisions), the Committee reviews:
  • Site plans (layout, access, parking, walkways, loading, landscape areas, fences/walls) — §17.64.064(A) .
  • Landscape plans (species, sizes, berming, features) — see also landscaping and screening — §17.64.064(B) .
  • Architectural drawings/elevations (materials, finishes, all sides) — §17.64.064(C) .
  • Signage plans (dimensions, location, height, materials, colors, illumination) — coordinate with citywide signage rules — §17.64.064(D) .
  • Any additional materials the Planning Director requires — §17.64.064(E) .

Process and timelines

• Filing and adequacy: Materials are submitted to the Planning Director, who determines submittal adequacy for Design Review Committee consideration. See §17.64.064 .
• Review clock: Within 30 days of the Planning Director’s adequacy finding, the Committee must act (approve design elements or return plans for modification). If the Committee does not conduct review within 30 days, plans are approved by default unless the applicant requests a time extension and the Planning Director approves it. See §17.64.065 .
• Appeals: The applicant may appeal a Committee determination within 10 days to the Redevelopment Agency, which must hold a hearing within 30 days; failure to act within that period results in automatic approval unless the applicant requests an extension. See §17.64.066 .
  • Note: The code identifies the “redevelopment agency” as the appeal body. Verify with the jurisdiction if a successor appeals body is in place.

Relationship to other approvals

• Underlying zoning still controls uses and dimensional standards. The D-O overlay does not change allowed uses; it adds a design review layer. Uses remain those permitted by the primary zoning district, and normal zone rules apply. See §17.06.064 .
• Conditional use permits may still be required under the primary zone, even in the D-O overlay. See §17.06.063 . If relief from development standards is needed, see variances and exceptions.
• State housing reforms and ministerial processes can limit design review. For example, Blythe’s SB 9 ordinance states the City shall not impose objective zoning, subdivision, or design review standards that would physically preclude constructing two units or result in units under 800 sq ft in the single-family zones regulated by that chapter. See §17.33A.040(A); confirm any parcel-specific applicability under California housing laws .
• For accessory units, see Blythe ADUs. Not found in retrieved materials: a Blythe-specific ADU design review pathway; ADUs are typically ministerial under state law.

Design Review at a Glance

District-by-District

D-O — Redevelopment Overlay (Downtown Design Review Area)

• Purpose and where it applies: The D-O overlay identifies areas designated by the City and its redevelopment agency as review areas for compliance with adopted redevelopment plans and standards, i.e., Blythe’s downtown “central business district.” See §17.06.061 and §17.64.061 .
• Typical permitted uses: Uses are those allowed by the underlying primary zone. The D-O layer does not add or subtract permitted uses. See §17.06.064 (“basic underlying use shall be the primary zoning designation”) . Not found in retrieved materials: a downtown-specific uses list; refer to Blythe Land Use.
• Key dimensional standards: Dimensional standards (e.g., setbacks, height, lot coverage) are per the primary zone and citywide development standards. The D-O layer adds design compliance, not new dimensions. See §17.06.064 .
• Design compliance requirement: All new uses/structures, use changes, and exterior modifications need Design Review Committee approval to confirm adherence to the Downtown Design Standards and Architectural Guidelines. See §17.06.062 .
• Related topics that often arise with DRC submittals: signage, landscaping and screening, and site layout/vehicular parking. If historic resources are involved, coordinate early with historic preservation.

Information Gaps

• The precise map/boundaries of the “central business district”/D-O areas and the full text of the Downtown Design Standards and Architectural Guidelines. Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the Planning Department.
• Any current successor appeal body replacing the “Redevelopment Agency.” The code still names the redevelopment agency; confirm current practice with the City. Not found in retrieved materials.
• A complete, current citywide permitted-use table by zone (Title 17.08 appears to have been amended/repealed in part). Not found in retrieved materials; verify uses in effect with the City.
• Fee schedule, application forms, and meeting cadence beyond the minimum annual meeting. Not found in retrieved materials.

Checklist

• Confirm your parcel lies within a D-O overlay area on the official zoning map; if not, Design Review Committee approval does not apply. See §17.06.064; §17.06.060–.061 .
• Identify your underlying zone and applicable development standards; D-O does not change those rules. See §17.06.064 .
• Prepare required submittals: site plan, landscape plan, architectural drawings/elevations, and signage plan (if signs are proposed). See §17.64.064(A)–(D) .
• File with the Planning Director for an adequacy check; the 30‑day review window starts upon an adequacy finding. See §17.64.065 .
• If you need relief from base-zone standards, coordinate a separate variance under variances and exceptions before or alongside DRC review. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• If pursuing SB 9 two‑unit housing, confirm that any applied design standards remain “objective” and do not physically preclude two units or reduce a unit below 800 sq ft. See §17.33A.040(A) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If you’re building or changing something in downtown Blythe’s mapped D-O areas, the City’s Design Review Committee must sign off on your site plan, building design, landscaping, and any signs to make sure the project matches the adopted downtown design guidelines. Your base zoning still sets what you can build and how big; design review just checks that it looks and fits as the City expects. The committee usually has 30 days after your application is deemed complete to act, with a clear path to appeal if needed.

Source References

• Blythe Municipal Code Title 17, Design Review Committee: §§17.64.060–17.64.066 (purpose, composition, meetings, scope, timelines, appeals) .
• Blythe Municipal Code Title 17, Redevelopment Overlay (D‑O): §§17.06.060–17.06.064 (purpose, manner of development, CUP relationship, zoning map designation) .
• Blythe Municipal Code Title 17, SB 9 Two‑Unit Housing limits on design review: §17.33A.040(A) .
• General Title 17 context: Title 17—Zoning overview and structure .

Retrieved passages

• Blythe Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Blythe Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Blythe Zoning Code (title or) High relevance show source text
• Blythe Zoning Code (Chapter 17.66) High relevance show source text
• Blythe Zoning Code (Section 17.64.060) High relevance show source text
• Blythe Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text
• Blythe Zoning Code (§ 3.02) Medium relevance show source text
• Blythe Zoning Code (§ 4.05) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Blythe Municipal Code Title 17, Design Review Committee: §§17.64.060–17.64.066 (purpose, composition, meetings, scope, timelines, appeals) . (Title 17)
• Blythe Municipal Code Title 17, Redevelopment Overlay (D‑O): §§17.06.060–17.06.064 (purpose, manner of development, CUP relationship, zoning map designation) . (Title 17)
• Blythe Municipal Code Title 17, SB 9 Two‑Unit Housing limits on design review: §17.33A.040(A) . (Title 17)
• General Title 17 context: Title 17—Zoning overview and structure . (Title 17)
• Blythe_ZoningCode.md

• Official Blythe code library