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• Expanding Design Review Authority to the First Floor of Single-Family Homes The Municipal Code requires Administrative Design Review approval by the Zoning Administrator for additions to single-family homes which exceed 10 feet in height. For years, staff has conservatively interpreted this to also include exterior changes to single- family homes that exceed 10 feet in height such as the installation of new second floor windows or replacing a flat roof with a gable roof. The reasoning behind this interpretation is that such changes could result in similar privacy, massing, and/or view impacts as an addition which exceeds 10 feet in height. It was felt that the adjacent neighbors should be given an opportunity to comment on the project just as they would with an addition which exceeds 10 feet in height. With historic structures, proposed changes 10 feet or less in height (generally the first floor) are often problematic. The location, spacing, and size of window and door openings, as well as the type of windows and doors, are often significant character-defining features of historic homes. The design of porches and foundation treatments can also be important. The City does not currently have design review authority for such changes to historic homes and owners can currently remove or change significant character-defining features without triggering City review and approval. On June 4, 2013, the Historic Preservation Task Force updated the City Council on the results of their work since forming and had requested direction on specific items the Task Force was considering. At that time, the Task Force suggested that design review authority be expanded to include the first floor of structures on certain categories of homes, either all homes that are determined to be historic or all homes in a certain area such as the Downtown Specific Plan Area. At that time, the Council did not support a change to require Design Review for modifications to the first floor of single-family homes. Based on the feedback from the Council at the June 2013 check-in, the Task Force did not recommend that the Planning Commission or City Council require Design Review for modifications to the first floor of single-family homes as part of their package of amendments that were presented for adoption. However, some Task Force members had felt that expanding design review authority to the first floor of homes in the Downtown is critical to ensure that changes are consistent with the Downtown Specific Plan and Downtown Design Guidelines. Therefore, the Task Force had recommended that the City Council ask staff to continue to evaluate this item in the future. At the January 21, 2014, City Council meeting, Council agreed to have future discussion of this subject. Therefore, staff has brought this item back to Council for discussion and direction. A Municipal Code Amendment would be required to expand design review authority to include the first floor of single-family homes. The Code Amendment could be limited to single-family homes in residential zoning districts in the Downtown Specific Plan Area that are considered "historic resources" as determined by the historic resource survey. Furthermore, the Code amendment could codify staff's longstanding interpretation that exterior changes to single-family homes that exceed 10 feet in height are subject to Page 3 of 5