103 / 194
Morgan Hill, California
97
Zucker Systems
Handouts, Planning Application Form
The Division posts available handouts on their web page, as well as project status
report and the Planning Application Form. Interviewees reported that several of the
planning division handouts posted online are out of date. We reviewed the handouts
and found that the majority had been updated in 2015, which is good.
We did find a couple that appeared to need updating however, including the “Zoning
Text Amendment” and “Urban Service Area” handouts, which were last updated in
2005 and 2007, respectively. In addition, we found that while the handouts did a good
job of outlining the submittal requirements, none of them adequately explained the
review process. The lack of a detail on the Preliminary Plan Review and Conceptual
Plan Review process was particularly problematic because it did not explain the
difference between the two, which is confusing for the unfamiliar user (see our
discussion under the “Conceptual Plan Review, Non-Measure C Preliminary Plan
Review” heading in this Section of the report).
A summary explanation of the review process would be particularly helpful in
explaining the Design Review Committee (DRC) process, which replaced the
Architectural and Site Plan Review (ASPR) Committee process.
104.
Recommendation:
The Community Development Director should update
out-of-date handouts and include a thorough summary explanation of its
purpose and the review and approval process.
In addition to some handouts being out of date, we found the Architectural and Site
Plan Review handout confusing. The Zoning Code provisions that establish this
application process is titled, “Design Review,” (Chapter 18.74), so it is not
immediately evident to an unfamiliar user that these provisions govern the
Architectural and Site Plan Review process, until the user reaches 18.74.010 (G),
where the “Architectural and Site Review” term is used. Later is this report we
recommend resolving unclear and inconsistent provisions like this one. (see our
discussion under the “Zoning Code.”
To add to the confusion, the handout for the Architectural and Site Review process
contains a hyperlink to “Architectural Review Handbook,” which is a document that
sets minimum standards for architecture, site planning and landscaping. However, the
hyperlink takes the user to the Division’s Zoning Web Page, rather than the actual
document and the document is actually titled “the Design Review Handbook.” When
the user clicks on the link, they are sent to a document titled as “Architectural Review