MISSION CANYON ASSOCIATION
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE GUIDELINES
(rev. 9/28/16)

INTRODUCTION: The Association’s review process is available to assist applicants in determining whether their projects comply with the Mission Canyon Residential Design Guidelines [MCRDG]. The process may also be invoked by Canyon residents who are concerned about whether a project in their neighborhood meets the MCRDG. In either case, using the Association’s review process is entirely voluntary. Our process can be invoked at any time in the planning process.

The MCA Architectural Design Review Committee [MCA ADRC] will continue its practice of monitoring SBAR agendas for projects in the Canyon which may be controversial and inviting applicants and neighbors to a meeting to collaboratively discuss whether the project meets the Design Guidelines, and, if not, to assist the stakeholders in bringing the project into compliance.

REQUESTING A HEARING

  • The MCA ADRC meets twice a month on a Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., two days before the meeting days of the South County Board of Architectural Review [SBAR]. Our meetings are held at the McVeagh House at the Museum of Natural History. SBAR’s hearing schedule can be found by clicking here: http://www.sbcountyplanning.org/boards/rbar/sbar.cfm.
  • Send an e-mail to the chair of MC ADRC requesting a hearing. The current chair is Hugh Twibell (htwibell@cox.net); check the MCA website to make sure that you are e-mailing the current chair: https://www.missioncanyon.org/ADRC.html. Attach any documents regarding the project that are in digital format, such as the SBAR submittal form, staff reports, etc.
  • The Committee chair will confirm, by e-mail to all interested parties, that a hearing has been scheduled.

NOTIFYING THE NEIGHBORS

  • Project applicants should notify neighbors who live within 300 feet of the meeting date, time and location. This can be done informally. Or, applicants may hire a mapping firm which, for a fee, will send out notices (for example, JDL Mapping charges $90 for projects in the Canyon as of 2016).
  • We expect that Applicants will act in good faith in giving notice to maximize the likelihood of preserving good relations with neighbors. Likewise, a neighbor with concerns about the nearby project who has requested a meeting with the Review Committee is expected to give notice of the date, time, and location of the meeting to the project applicant. If at all possible, the notice of the hearing should be in writing.

THE HEARING

  • Project applicants should bring site plans for the Committee members to review; bring at least one set of plans, preferably more.
  • Neighbors who have requested a hearing because of their concerns about a project shall bring all documents related to the project that could assist the Committee, such as County Planning Department staff reports, SBAR findings, photographs of story poles, and the like.
  • Meetings are casual and supportive. Committee members shall focus the discussion on whether the project complies with the letter and spirit of the Mission Canyon Residential Design Guidelines and, if not, how to bring the project into compliance.

  • If the Committee cannot reach consensus at the end of the hearing and needs to deliberate further, the DRC will notify the parties of its decision, in writing. In its sole discretion, the DRC may also notify the appropriate government agency, in writing, of its decision.

ABR meetings are scheduled so as not to conflict with County BAR meeting dates.