Downtown Design Review Committee

Introduction

On July 30, 2019, the City Council adopted Ordinance 2963 which amended the Oxnard City Code Chapter 16, Division 10 to create a new “Downtown Code”.

The Downtown Code is comprised of two parts:

Part 1: Zones and Standards, establishes requirements including the zoning designations within the Downtown area, permitted and conditionally permitted land uses, development standards, and permit processing.

Part 2: Architectural Guidelines, provides direction and recommendations regarding building architectural styles, design elements, and form.

These two elements work together.  As an example, the Zones and Standards require a building to be designed with a distinct architectural style and establishes criteria for certain design elements of the building. 

The Architectural Guidelines provides design details for specific architectural styles including defining characteristics and design elements to avoid.

Table 16-146 of the Downtown Code identifies the required permit path (i.e. a Major or Minor Downtown Design Review Permit or Special Use Permit) for all new buildings, additions, site improvements, exterior changes to a building or property, and signs.  Such changes include, but are not limited to, constructing new structures or additions to existing structures, repainting or changing exterior finishes, installing new doors or windows, installing new roof material, new walls or fences, lighting, landscaping, trash enclosures, installing new signs and changing existing signs.

Requirement for Planning Permits Table 16-146
		Reviewing Body
Type of Activity	Type of Permit Required	Planning Staff	Director¹	Planning Commission
Repainting or changing exterior finish	Minor DDR		Decision
Building improvements (façade, doors, windows, roofing, gutters, screening)	OTC DDR	Decision
Site improvements (lighting, landscaping, parking areas, trash enclosure, fencing)	Minor DDR		Decision²
New sign(s)	OTC DDR	Decision
Digital Sign	SUP	Decision²
Mural	Minor DDR	Recommend	Decision²
Change of sign copy	OTC DDR	Decision
Sidewalk dining and/or parklet	OTC DDR	Decision
Allowed Variations from Standards	Minor DDR	Recommend	Recommend	Decision²
Addition to building	Minor DDR	Recommend	Decision²
New building	Major DDR	Recommend	Decision²
New buildings (two or more)	Major DDR	Recommend	Recommend	Decision²
Key	Notes
OTC Over-the-counter Downtown Design Review Permit Minor DDR Minor Downtown Design Review Permit Major DDR Major Downtown Design Review Permit SUP Special Use Permit	¹ The Community Development Director ² Decision is appealable by the next Review Authority

Purpose of the Downtown Design Review Committee (DDRC)

The Downtown Design Review Committee (DDRC) consists of five members appointed by the City Council, including a licensed architect, and a business or real property owner in the downtown zones (DT-C, DT-G, DT-E). All members shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council. DDRC members must be at least 18 years of age and do not need to be residents of the City of Oxnard. The DDRC shall consider applications for a Downtown Design Review Permit or Special Use Permit that the Community Development Director (Director) refers to the DDRC, and shall make a written recommendation thereon to the Director and/or Planning Commission, stating the reasons for the recommendation. If the DDRC does not make such a recommendation to the Director within 20 days of the date that the Director referred the application to the DDRC, the DDRC will be deemed to have waived making a recommendation, and the Director or the Planning Commission shall make a determination on the application without taking into consideration a recommendation from the DDRC.

The DDRC will hold two public meetings each month to review applications and provide comments and recommendations to the City of Oxnard Planning Division. Members shall serve for two years and may be reappointed to serve additional terms. The DDRC conducts regular meetings, as necessary, to review items that the Community Development Director (Director) refers to the DDRC.

DDRC Members

Gary Blum – Chair, Downtown Business Owner

Alesia Martin  – Member

AJ Valenzuela  – Member

Tyson Cline  – Member, Architect

David Ferrin  – Member, Architect

Meetings

Meetings occur as-needed on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 9:00 a.m., Planning Conference Room, Oxnard Service Center, 214 S. “C” Street.

Click Here For Meeting Schedule and Agenda

For questions regarding the DDRC member body, please email Joe Pearson II or by phone (805) 385-8272

References

• Downtown Code and Design Guidelines
• Application materials for projects requiring DDRC review can be found here.
• Oxnard Historic Survey 2005