Introduction
The Civic Design Review Committee meets the third Monday of every month at 3:00 p.m. at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70. If the regularly scheduled meeting falls on a legal holiday, the meeting will be rescheduled to the immediately following Monday. Applicants are required to submit a letter requesting review, the Civic Design Review fee ($2500), an art enrichment report and an informational packet one week prior to the meeting at which they wish to have their project reviewed. Detailed information regarding these requirements is outlined in the Submission Requirements section for each review phase. Applicants who fail to meet all of the submission requirements by the Monday prior to the Civic Design meeting will not be calendared.
The Civic Design Review process consists of three phases. Each project must be approved at all three phases of review to complete the Civic Design Review requirement. The review phases align with the typical project delivery for architectural services:
Phase 1: Schematic Design
Phase 2: Design Development
Phase 3: Construction Documents
Detailed information regarding what the committee will be looking for at the various phases is outlined in the Submission Requirements for each phase, listed below. Although the Committee typically meets every month, applicants should plan their submission prudently in order to maximize the benefit of the review and to minimize the possibility of schedule delays.
At the hearing, the Civic Design Committee will either move to approve the project or take no action on the proposal based on information presented. If there is no action, the applicant will be required to resubmit and present their proposal again at the next regularly scheduled Civic Design meeting for the specified phase review. All submission requirements will be the same. Applicants should review and be prepared to address any comments made by the Committee. If the Committee recommends approval, then the motion will carry to the next regularly scheduled full Commission consent calendar. Applicants are not required to present at the full Commission meeting unless specifically requested by the Civic Design Committee.
Any contingencies associated with a project’s approval must be met prior to moving on to the next phase review. Final Phase 3 approval will be withheld if there are outstanding contingencies on a particular phase approval. Any associated reviews (i.e., Environmental Impact Report, Negative Declaration, Certificate of Appropriateness) must be certified or resolved before a final Phase 3 approval can be granted.
Additionally, any changes made to a previously approved design at any phase must be reported to the Arts Commission staff. Based on information submitted by the applicant, staff will determine if additional Commission review is required or if the matter can be administratively reviewed.