The City of Pleasant Hill, Architectural Review Commission, will hold a public hearing on proposed revisions to residential design and development standards in response to recent changes in State law.  The proposed residential design and development standards would be incorporated into the existing Residential City-Wide Design Guidelines, please note that no changes are proposed to the existing City-Wide Design Guidelines.  The Commission reviewed previous versions of the residential design and development standards and will make a recommendation to the Planning Commission and City Council.

Over the last several years, California has enacted several new laws requiring cities to streamline housing development project approval for both single family and multifamily residential development, including SB 330, SB 35, SB 167, AB 678 and AB 1515.  Review of City’s existing standards will ensure that qualifying housing development projects, subject to streamlined review, are designed to fit in with the character of Pleasant Hill.  Reviewing City’s existing standards for possible revisions provides the City of Pleasant Hill a unique opportunity to consider new standards that may further enhance the City’s character and family-oriented way of life.

Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970, as amended, the lead agency has determined that the proposed activity is exempt from CEQA. The City as the lead agency has determined with certainty that the proposed activity will not have a significant effect on the environment as the proposed design & development standards when applied to relevant projects will undergo separate CEQA review.

Please note that due to City Council Resolution No. 63-21, options for observing the Architectural Review Commission meeting and for participating in public comment regarding the meetings have changed. The Architectural Review Commission will participate remotely via teleconferencing.

THE PUBLIC HEARING will be held by the Architectural Review Commission starting at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 18, 2021, via Teleconferencing.  More information on how to participate, including providing live comments during the meeting, will be provided on the posted Architectural Review Commission Agenda.

For information on this matter, please call or email Troy Fujimoto, at (925) 671-5224 or tfujimoto@pleasanthillca.org.