8.1. Public Hearing to consider introduction and First Reading of an ordinance amending Title 12, Title 16, and Title 17 of the Orange Municipal Code modifying the duties and responsibilities of the Design Review Committee. Ordinance No. 18-25.
This is a common sense rebalancing between efficient government processes and historic preservation. Under the proposed ordinance, the Design Review Committee would still be responsible for approving designs for development projects involving historic properties and projects in a historic district. Design review and historic preservation in Old Towne, the Eichlers and designated historic properties will be unaffected, while bringing development and permitting processes outside those protected areas in line with other Orange County Cities.
The City faces imminent bankruptcy. It is time for City government to take affirmative steps to open the City to economic development opportunities rather than over-regulating and overburdening private property rights with unnecessary, costly and time consuming design reviews by an unaccountable committee with broad discretionary approval rights. Too frequently, these governmental processes are weaponized by anti-development groups and NIMBYs with the obvious results - the most jarring of which is the lack of sufficient housing putting the American promise of prosperity and homeownership out of reach of most everyone's children.
Some groups are mobilizing constituents with fear mongering about what this ordinance actually accomplishes. Do not let the loud voices of a special interest minority drown out the common sense of the silent majority that wants economic development and sane government. As lawmakers you must do what is right - not what special interests scream loudest for.
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I oppose this item and support OTPA/OLA’s stance on this. We need to keep the experienced architects and preservationist at the table to weigh in on these critical points. Thank you. Vickie Laughlin
I do not support the proposed ordinance being considered that would reduce the DRC’s scope to only historic properties. DRC is made up of professionals that have expertise in architecture, site planning and landscape design. Their input makes projects better.
The ordinance, as written, gives the authority to determine if a structure meets the “Historic Threshold” to the Community Development Director. There is no historic preservation planner on staff, so that means the determination would be based off of the applicant-provided study, that is not peer-reviewed by experts from the City. At a recent DRC hearing, the Planning Manager deferred to DRC’s expertise on whether a building was considered historic because planning staff does not have that expertise. Additionally, although the building was considered “non-contributing,” there was not enough information on the inventory forms to determine why the structure was non-contributing. DRC was able to request additional information and stop the demolition of a potentially historic structure. If this ordinance passes, historic structures will be demolished because planning staff does not have the expertise to determine what makes a structure historic, and will have to depend on studies that were prepared by applicants.
Currently, Orange has no objective design standards for either residential, mixed-use or commercial projects outside the historic districts. Taking out the role of DRC will greatly impact the quality of projects that are developed in Orange. Developers are going to design what is cheapest to build, not with the public interest in mind. Planning Commission and Design Review have different functions, and by narrowing DRC’s purview, the City will have no expert input on the design and landscape of future development projects. Before an ordinance like this is considered, the City should put in place strong objective design standards to ensure quality commercial, mixed-use and residential developments.
This ordinance would also remove the ability of Orange residents to provide input on projects. Often these projects only go to DRC, so by removing them from the process, you are taking away the ability for residents to provide meaningful input on projects.
If this ordinance passes, it will impact historic resources, reduce community input, and lower the quality of future developments in the City.
I strongly oppose this item and support OTPA/OLA's stance on this matter. Keep our City Charming and Historic!!
Hire qualified staff to handle the requests. Find economic development outside of Old Town!
Let's give DRC guidelines, not eliminate them. With the changing nature of city employees, what one staff member's opinion about design guidelines carries too much weight. Better to have city residents who have a vested interest in what a project will look like at completion and 15 years later after a well meaning staff person is two or three employments down the line.
I am very much opposed to this revision of the DRC ordinance as it gives too much authority to the Community Development Director. What experience or qualifications does he have that is more than the sum of the DRC members? It also weakens historic preservation protections. Why is this city trying to strip away historic protections?
I am writing in opposition to the proposed changes to the scope of authority of the Design Review Committee. The DRC serves a critical role in the review process for development within the city, ensuring integrity of design and adherence to the intent of the municipal code. It is through their efforts that the character-defining features of the historic districts are maintained, and how Old Towne in particular has evolved to be a uniquely beautiful, community-oriented downtown destination. All major decisions related to modification to historic structures, including demolition of structures, within the historic district should remain with the professionals of the DRC. The design standards for Old Towne and the Eichler historic districts already include a number of decisions that can be made at the administrative level for minor projects. Furthermore, there is currently a lack of in-house preservation expertise in the Community Development Department to handle an increase in administrative workload to make these decisions. It is my request that the City Council make no changes to the review process within the historic districts until the City commits to staffing the historic preservation planner position to support the Community Development Director and staff to make these important decisions.
In addition, decision-making authority for properties outside of the historic districts should not be considered for change until there has been further discussion, and a plan in place, as to how to manage review. The City currently does not have objective design standards for commercial or mixed-use projects, and therefore relies on the expertise of the DRC to review projects for compliance with the findings in the municipal code, which ensures harmonious development within the city. Without the DRC, or objective design standards, the design review process for projects outside of the historic districts will become more opaque and subjective than the current process. Therefore, I ask the City Council to table this decision for future discussion and development of a comprehensive plan for streamlining of the design review process. Thank you.
The DRC, OTPA and the preservationist have overstepped the scope and purview for 15 years. These handful of people have gridlocked the city with bullying tactics and have stacked committees with their own members. While these groups preach “economic viability” they have not a clue the financial impact it causes when you cannot build/alter anything. Keep them in the downtown where preservation is appropriate, but gets them out of the rest of the city so there is a chance to develop modern commercial uses.
The members of these preservation groups are one foot in the grave and do not care the situation they leave for younger residents.
If you preserve everything with no chance of change ever, you are also preserving our economic situation. There is a place where you can’t touch anything or change anything, and that’s called a museum.
Given the historic nature of our community and structures, I strongly oppose relinquishing the design and maintenance of Orange’s charm and character to the Community Development Director and its auspices. I support OTPA’s rationale and direction for the City of Orange.
I oppose this item and support OTPA/OLA’s stance on this.
This is a common sense rebalancing between efficient government processes and historic preservation. Under the proposed ordinance, the Design Review Committee would still be responsible for approving designs for development projects involving historic properties and projects in a historic district. Design review and historic preservation in Old Towne, the Eichlers and designated historic properties will be unaffected, while bringing development and permitting processes outside those protected areas in line with other Orange County Cities.
The City faces imminent bankruptcy. It is time for City government to take affirmative steps to open the City to economic development opportunities rather than over-regulating and overburdening private property rights with unnecessary, costly and time consuming design reviews by an unaccountable committee with broad discretionary approval rights. Too frequently, these governmental processes are weaponized by anti-development groups and NIMBYs with the obvious results - the most jarring of which is the lack of sufficient housing putting the American promise of prosperity and homeownership out of reach of most everyone's children.
Some groups are mobilizing constituents with fear mongering about what this ordinance actually accomplishes. Do not let the loud voices of a special interest minority drown out the common sense of the silent majority that wants economic development and sane government. As lawmakers you must do what is right - not what special interests scream loudest for.
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I oppose this item and support OTPA/OLA’s stance on this. We need to keep the experienced architects and preservationist at the table to weigh in on these critical points. Thank you. Vickie Laughlin
I do not support the proposed ordinance being considered that would reduce the DRC’s scope to only historic properties. DRC is made up of professionals that have expertise in architecture, site planning and landscape design. Their input makes projects better.
The ordinance, as written, gives the authority to determine if a structure meets the “Historic Threshold” to the Community Development Director. There is no historic preservation planner on staff, so that means the determination would be based off of the applicant-provided study, that is not peer-reviewed by experts from the City. At a recent DRC hearing, the Planning Manager deferred to DRC’s expertise on whether a building was considered historic because planning staff does not have that expertise. Additionally, although the building was considered “non-contributing,” there was not enough information on the inventory forms to determine why the structure was non-contributing. DRC was able to request additional information and stop the demolition of a potentially historic structure. If this ordinance passes, historic structures will be demolished because planning staff does not have the expertise to determine what makes a structure historic, and will have to depend on studies that were prepared by applicants.
Currently, Orange has no objective design standards for either residential, mixed-use or commercial projects outside the historic districts. Taking out the role of DRC will greatly impact the quality of projects that are developed in Orange. Developers are going to design what is cheapest to build, not with the public interest in mind. Planning Commission and Design Review have different functions, and by narrowing DRC’s purview, the City will have no expert input on the design and landscape of future development projects. Before an ordinance like this is considered, the City should put in place strong objective design standards to ensure quality commercial, mixed-use and residential developments.
This ordinance would also remove the ability of Orange residents to provide input on projects. Often these projects only go to DRC, so by removing them from the process, you are taking away the ability for residents to provide meaningful input on projects.
If this ordinance passes, it will impact historic resources, reduce community input, and lower the quality of future developments in the City.
I strongly oppose this item and support OTPA/OLA's stance on this matter. Keep our City Charming and Historic!!
Hire qualified staff to handle the requests. Find economic development outside of Old Town!
Let's give DRC guidelines, not eliminate them. With the changing nature of city employees, what one staff member's opinion about design guidelines carries too much weight. Better to have city residents who have a vested interest in what a project will look like at completion and 15 years later after a well meaning staff person is two or three employments down the line.
I oppose this item and support OTPA’s stance on this. Keep the design review committtee’s responsibilities covering the entire City.
Make it easier on Residents and Business to make improvements. The DRC is slow moving and bad for business
I am very much opposed to this revision of the DRC ordinance as it gives too much authority to the Community Development Director. What experience or qualifications does he have that is more than the sum of the DRC members? It also weakens historic preservation protections. Why is this city trying to strip away historic protections?
I oppose this item and support OTPA/OLA’s stance on this.
I am writing in opposition to the proposed changes to the scope of authority of the Design Review Committee. The DRC serves a critical role in the review process for development within the city, ensuring integrity of design and adherence to the intent of the municipal code. It is through their efforts that the character-defining features of the historic districts are maintained, and how Old Towne in particular has evolved to be a uniquely beautiful, community-oriented downtown destination. All major decisions related to modification to historic structures, including demolition of structures, within the historic district should remain with the professionals of the DRC. The design standards for Old Towne and the Eichler historic districts already include a number of decisions that can be made at the administrative level for minor projects. Furthermore, there is currently a lack of in-house preservation expertise in the Community Development Department to handle an increase in administrative workload to make these decisions. It is my request that the City Council make no changes to the review process within the historic districts until the City commits to staffing the historic preservation planner position to support the Community Development Director and staff to make these important decisions.
In addition, decision-making authority for properties outside of the historic districts should not be considered for change until there has been further discussion, and a plan in place, as to how to manage review. The City currently does not have objective design standards for commercial or mixed-use projects, and therefore relies on the expertise of the DRC to review projects for compliance with the findings in the municipal code, which ensures harmonious development within the city. Without the DRC, or objective design standards, the design review process for projects outside of the historic districts will become more opaque and subjective than the current process. Therefore, I ask the City Council to table this decision for future discussion and development of a comprehensive plan for streamlining of the design review process. Thank you.
I oppose this item and support OTPA/OLA’s stance on this.
I oppose this item and support OTPA/OLA’s stance on this.
I oppose this item and support OTPA/OLA’s stance on this.
The DRC, OTPA and the preservationist have overstepped the scope and purview for 15 years. These handful of people have gridlocked the city with bullying tactics and have stacked committees with their own members. While these groups preach “economic viability” they have not a clue the financial impact it causes when you cannot build/alter anything. Keep them in the downtown where preservation is appropriate, but gets them out of the rest of the city so there is a chance to develop modern commercial uses.
The members of these preservation groups are one foot in the grave and do not care the situation they leave for younger residents.
If you preserve everything with no chance of change ever, you are also preserving our economic situation. There is a place where you can’t touch anything or change anything, and that’s called a museum.
I oppose this item and support OTPA/OLA'S STANCE ON THIS
I oppose this item and support OTPA/OLA'S STANCE ON THIS
I oppose this item and support OTPA/OLA’s stance on this.”
I oppose this item and support OTPAs stance on this item
Given the historic nature of our community and structures, I strongly oppose relinquishing the design and maintenance of Orange’s charm and character to the Community Development Director and its auspices. I support OTPA’s rationale and direction for the City of Orange.