Design Review Board

LA MESA DESIGN REVIEW BOARD AGENDA A Regular Meeting Date: Monday, April 28, 2025, 12:30 p.m. Location: City Council Chambers, 8130 Allison Avenue La Mesa, California Board Members: Vice Chair Maria Ruiz-Ostmeyer Board Member Christopher Langdon Board Member Alison Morita Director of Community Development Lynnette Santos The public may view the meeting in-person or live using the following remote options: Teleconference Meeting Webinar https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87018636632 Telephone (Audio only) (669) 900-6833 or (253) 215-8782 Webinar ID: 870 1863 6632 Copy and paste the webinar link into your internet browser if the webinar link does not work directly from the agenda. PUBLIC COMMENTS • In-Person comments during the meeting: Join us for the Board meeting at the time and location specified on this agenda to make your comments. Comments will be limited to three (3) minutes. • How to submit eComments: eComments are available once an agenda is published. Locate the meeting in "upcoming meetings" and click the comment bubble icon. Click on the item you wish to comment on. eComments can be submitted when the agenda is published and until 24 hours prior to the meeting. eComments are limited to 3700 characters (approximately 500 words). eComments may be viewed by the Board and members of the public following the close of the eComment submission period (24 hours  prior to the meeting). Email your comment to planning@cityoflamesa.us if you have difficulty submitting an eComment. eComments will not be read aloud as a regular meeting item; however any member of the Board or member of the public may do so during their respective comment time. PLEASE NOTE: Public Comment will be limited to 3 minutes per item. The timer begins when the participant begins speaking. Time cannot by combined or yielded to another speaker. Citizens who wish to make an audio/visual presentation pertaining to an item on the agenda, or during Public Comments, should contact the Community Development Department at 619.667.1176, no later than 12:00 p.m., the business day prior to the meeting day. Advance notification will ensure compatibility with City equipment and allow Board meeting presentations to progress smoothly and in a consistent and equitable manner. Please note that all presentations/digital materials are considered part of the maximum time limit provided to speakers. Agenda reports for items on this agenda are available for public review at the Community Development Department, 8130 Allison Avenue, during normal business hours. Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Board after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at the Community Development Department, 8130 Allison Avenue, during normal business hours. ACCESSIBILITY: The City of La Mesa encourages the participation of disabled individuals in the services, activities and programs provided by the City. Individuals with disabilities, who require reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the Board meetings, should contact the Administrative Services Department 48 hours prior to the meeting at 619.667.1175, fax 619.667.1163, or GSpaniol@cityoflamesa.us. Hearing assisted devices are available for the hearing impaired. A City staff member is available to provide these devices upon entry to City Council meetings, commission meetings or public hearings held in the City Council Chambers. A photo i.d. or signature will be required to secure a device for the meeting. Pages 1. CALL TO ORDER 1.1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1.2 ROLL CALL 2. ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA 3. PRESENTATION 3.1 Objective Design Standards 4 Page 2 of 7 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS – (TOTAL TIME – 15 MINUTES) NOTE: In accordance with state law, an item not scheduled on the agenda may be brought forward by the general public for comment; however, the Design Review Board will not be able to discuss or take any action on the item at this meeting. If appropriate, the item will be referred to Staff or placed on a future agenda. 5. CONFLICT DISCLOSURES 6. CURRENT BUSINESS 6.1 APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES FOR THE DESIGN REVIEW 5 REGULAR MEETING HELD MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2025 7. STAFF AND BOARD MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS 8. ADJOURNMENT Page 3 of 7 DATE: April 28, 2025 TO: Design Review Board FROM: Allyson Kinnard, Associate Planner aek VIA: Lynnette Santos, Director of Community Development LS SUBJECT: Objective Design Standards To conform to State law, many cities are adopting objective design standards that establish clear and measurable criteria that can be evaluated by staff in the same manner as zoning development standards. The new objective standards would apply only to housing and mixed-use development projects required by State law to be approved ministerially. Staff will present and requests DRB’s input on elements related to Site Design, Building Design, and Landscape Design, three key considerations that will help to ensure that the appearance of new housing developments continue to be compatible with the city’s Vision. Staff will also share what we have heard to date from the community on 1. what are the most important design considerations and 2. how might the existing guidelines pertaining to those design elements be made objective? The draft standards are programmed to be reviewed and adopted by the Planning Commission and City Council by May of this year. The schedule for implementing objective design standards is driven by a June deadline imposed by the State Department of Housing and Community Development. Page 4 of 7  La Mesa Design Review Board Minutes of a Regular Meeting Date: April 14, 2025, 12:30 p.m. Location: City Council Chambers, 8130 Allison Avenue La Mesa, California Present: Vice Chair Maria Ruiz-Ostmeyer Board Member Christopher Langdon Board Member Alison Morita Director of Community Development Lynnette Santos Staff: Assistant Director of Community Development Jared Chavez Associate Planner Allyson Kinnard Associate Planner Laura Traffenstedt Administrative Coordinator Noemi Becerra Administrative Coordinator Julia Carrillo _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER Director of Community Development Santos called meeting to order at 12:30pm. 1.1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1.2 ROLL CALL 2. ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA No additions or deletions. 3. PRESENTATION No presentations. 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS – (TOTAL TIME – 15 MINUTES) NOTE: In accordance with state law, an item not scheduled on the agenda may be brought forward by the general public for comment; however, the Design Review Board will not be able to discuss or take any action on the item at this 1 Page 5 of 7  meeting. If appropriate, the item will be referred to Staff or placed on a future agenda. No public comments. 5. CONFLICT DISCLOSURES No conflict disclosures. 6. CURRENT BUSINESS 6.1 APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES FOR THE DESIGN REVIEW REGULAR MEETING HELD MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2024 Moved by Board Member Langdon Seconded by Board Member Morita Yes (4): Vice Chair Ruiz-Ostmeyer, Board Member Langdon, Board Member Morita, and Director of Community Development Santos Motion Approved (4 to 0) 6.2 APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES FOR THE DESIGN REVIEW REGULAR MEETING HELD MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025 Moved by Board Member Langdon Seconded by Board Member Morita Yes (4): Vice Chair Ruiz-Ostmeyer, Board Member Langdon, Board Member Morita, and Director of Community Development Santos Motion Approved (4 to 0) 6.3 LOWELL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITY DESIGN REVIEW A CONSIDERATION TO CONSTRUCT A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY WITHIN A LEASED AREA LOCATED AT 4200 LOWELL STREET, APN 475-050-06-00 IN THE R1 (URBAN RESIDENTIAL) ZONE. Condition for the applicant to contact Helix High School regarding painting CMU similar to other out builds and have the high school paint their logo OR select integral colors for CMU instead. Moved by Board Member Langdon Seconded by Board Member Morita 2 Page 6 of 7  Staff recommends that the Design Review Board approve the project, subject to City Council ratification. Yes (4): Vice Chair Ruiz-Ostmeyer, Board Member Langdon, Board Member Morita, and Director of Community Development Santos Motion Approved (4 to 0) 7. STAFF AND BOARD MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS  Director of Community Development Santos stated there was a lot of positive feedback from the EnerSmart Town Hall held by councilmember.  Assistant Director of Community Development Santos invited Board to the Objective Design Standards public session being held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 6pm in the Arbor Room at the Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942 8. ADJOURNMENT Director of Community Development Santos adjourned the meeting at 1:06pm. 3 Page 7 of 7