Local architectural review under review
City of Chico examining implications of merging two development panels
Architectural review has been a hot-button topic in development circles for years, conspicuously so locally. Furor hit a peak in 2016 when the Chico Children’s Museum had its downtown renovation project delayed over the shade of yellow chosen for the facade. The museum ultimately appealed successfully, but the damage was done: city councilors put the Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board in their crosshairs.
The board survived, albeit with the yellow-paint albatross, until March 7, when the council folded the ARHPB into the Planning Commission. A subcommittee of commissioners will perform the functions previously designated for the architecture board.
Councilor Sean Morgan, who made the motion that passed 4-3, said afterward that the ARHPB “can have a purpose” but has a lot of meetings canceled. “I think we’re going to see a big efficiency for development and city staff.
“If it doesn’t work, we can always bring it back. It’s just not needed, and in the past, they’ve gotten way too far into the weeds.”
Dale Bennett, the councilor who served on both the ARHPB and the Planning Commission, was among the dissenters. He cautioned his colleagues about “unintended consequences” and later explained, “I can see possibly — and I’m going to emphasize possibly — a challenge of finding planning commissioners who will also fill the need of architectural review and historic preservation. There are some very distinct differences and very distinct attributes relative to those boards. But it’s not a challenge that cannot be overcome.”
The city ordinance establishing the ARHPB in 2010 delineates specific requirements. Three of the five members must work in “the visual arts field” as architects, landscape architects, artists or designers — two of whom with professional experience in architecture, history, planning or preservation fields. All must have an interest in and knowledge of historical preservation.
Requirements
On March 7, the council filled Planning Commission vacancies with realtor Brandi Laffins, housing analyst Margaret Scarpa and former city development director Mark Wolfe. They join business owner Toni Scott (current commission chair), property manager Paul Cooper, construction project manager Lindsay Poulin (former ARHPB vice chair) and Larry Wahl (former councilor and county supervisor).
Community Development Director Brendan Vieg said Chico’s requirements stem from state guidelines, and he’s consulting with state officials on how the city proceeds.
“Council’s direction was fairly broad, so we’ll be looking at all aspects of what it takes to thoughtfully integrate the ARHPB’s responsibilities into the Planning Commission’s purview,” Vieg said, adding: “There may be an interim period where members of the Planning Commission do not possess the desired ARHPB qualifications laid out (in the municipal code).”
Historic preservation falls under a division of California State Parks, the Office of Historic Preservation. Some of its requirements also are broad — a manual on local ordinances states “communities have wide leeway” in constituting preservation panels.
“These are the issues that we need to look into,” Vieg said.