17.52.060 Site plan and design review.
A. Purpose. The purpose of site plan and design review is to provide a process for the appropriate review of development projects to ensure that the design of proposed development and new land uses are consistent with the city’s adopted ordinances and plans and to assist in maintaining and enhancing the city’s small-town character.
B. Applicability.
1. Site plan and design review shall be required for each project requiring approval of a building permit and/or a planning permit that involves construction, exterior alteration of a building, site or landscaping design, or other similar action affecting the functional or aesthetic qualities of land or structures.
2. Building or grading permits, business licenses or certificates of occupancy shall not be issued until the requirements of this section are met.
C. Application Filing and Processing. An application for site plan and design review shall include all items determined by the director to be necessary for making a determination on the application. A pre-application discussion with planning staff regarding a proposed project is encouraged to help in identifying application submittal documentation.
D. Application Review. Each application for site plan and design review shall be reviewed to ensure that the application is consistent with the purpose of this section, applicable zoning code development standards and regulations, and adopted design guidelines and policies that may apply.
E. Findings and Decision. The review authority may approve or conditionally approve a site plan and design review application if it first makes all of the following findings. The development will:
1. Be allowed within the subject zoning;
2. Be in compliance with all applicable development standards and regulations, and adopted design guidelines and policies that may apply;
3. Be in keeping with the character of the neighborhood or project setting in terms of the project’s general appearance; and
4. Not be detrimental to the harmonious and orderly growth of the city or the public health and safety of its residents.
F. Conditions of Approval. In approving a site plan and design review application the review authority may impose conditions deemed reasonable and necessary to ensure that the approval would be in compliance with this section and the findings required by subsection (E) (Findings and Decision) of this section. (Ord. 706 § 3 (Exh. A), 2019).