[OMS_MANAGERS] FW: Color Requirement Enforcement Question

[W Darin Rutledge, Executive Director]

Klamath Falls has a Downtown Business Zone that articulates design standards for Downtown above and beyond the basic design standards. That’s the what. 

 

Technically, a Downtown Design Review Commission is supposed to review “qualifying projects” – that is, renovations that include exterior alterations and any new construction/infill. If the design review qualifies for planning commission review, the DDRC forwards a recommendation to the planning commission. That’s the who. 

 

And the key to the whole thing: what triggers a design review? Well, it’s tricky here. The City doesn’t issue building permits. Once an application is submitted to the COUNTY for a building permit, the CITY planning manager evaluates the project through a design review process. Our planning manager is given latitude to make decisions based on certain criteria, and generally will dispense with these at the staff level unless they are outside defined decision criteria or are likely to be high-profile or controversial. If it requires a design review (and Downtown design review if applicable), it goes through the appropriate bodies and is “signed off” before the County will issue a permit. That’s the how. 

 

Our City Code is a mess too, not to mention that years of stagnation have basically made the Downtown Design Review Commission all but disappear (we’re working on fixing that). 

 

But, the bones are there. I would say it’s important to articulate the design standards so you have something evaluate the project against. Then, there has to be an authoritative body in place to assess whether or not the project meets the design standards (hopefully the Downtown/Main Street organization is represented). And most critically, there has to be a mechanism that triggers a the evaluation. In other words, make sure that building owners are required to get a permit before painting their downtown building.  Without this mechanism, a property owner could just start slapping on paint without having to ask anyone.

 

Happy to share links to our code if you want to see how it’s set up

D

 

From: OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> on behalf of STUART Sheri * OPRD via OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
Reply-To: STUART Sheri * OPRD <Sheri.Stuart at oregon.gov>, Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
Date: Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 4:50 PM
To: Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: [OMS_MANAGERS] FW: Color Requirement Enforcement Question

 

Hi all – I responded to Kenna but also offered to share over the listserv. Any advice for Willamina? Thanks, Sheri

 

From: Kenna West <westk at ci.willamina.or.us> 
Sent: Thursday, February 4, 2021 9:39 AM
To: STUART Sheri * OPRD <Sheri.Stuart at oregon.gov>
Subject: Color Requirement Enforcement Question

 

Sheri,

 

We are undergoing a relatively large Development Code overhaul that includes a downtown business area overlay.  That overlay includes allowed colors and facades for buildings.  We are trying to keep our downtown as authentically Willamina as possible.  One question that has arisen as we work through these issues is, how do other cities enforce the code requirements regarding colors?  The theoretical issue is that someone who is unfamiliar with the code, buys a building in the business overlay zone and paints the building neon green or some other non-allowed color before the City has the opportunity to stop the work.  Do you know what other cities have done to avoid that issue?

 

Thank you so much for any assistance you can lend!  Have a wonderful day!

 

Kenna

 

Kenna L. West, JD

City Manager

City of Willamina

411 NE C Street

Willamina, OR 97396

(O) 503-876-2242 (C) 971-222-5808

westk at ci.willamina.or.us

 

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

 

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