Commission adopts municipal code text amendments to objective design standards, routes further work to June 4

The Sierra Madre Planning Commission on May 21 approved Municipal Code Text Amendment (MCTA) 26‑02 to revise how the city’s objective design standards are applied and how amendments to that document are processed.

Planning staff summarized the key edits: applicability was changed from “construction projects” to “development projects,” language was amended to explicitly incorporate amendments to the objective design standards, the exceptions/exemptions section was simplified to remove minor and qualified exceptions (leaving three exceptions), the prior finding that would allow exceptions based on maximum density was replaced with a finding based on architectural quality, provisions for alternative design standard agreements were removed, and density bonus provisions were revised and limited so that development projects cannot simultaneously use the chapter’s exceptions and density bonus law benefits.

Why it matters: The changes alter who and how applicants and staff can seek amendments to objective design standards, and they clarify the procedural path for amendments and appeals. Commissioners emphasized the need to preserve both an administrative interpretation route for staff and an accessible pathway for applicants to seek commission review.

Commission discussion focused on whether all amendments should be routed to the planning commission and on distinguishing administrative interpretation (a director’s ministerial/interpretive action) from a formal amendment process. Staff and the city attorney recommended an approach in which the director reviews amendment requests and the planning commission reviews amendments upon the director’s recommendation, with an explicit appeal path to the city council under the municipal code. City staff also noted a practical, lower‑cost route for applicants: a planning consultation letter request currently costs $331 and an appeal of a director decision is 75% of the original fee; a full municipal code amendment fee was cited as $9,886.

The commission asked staff to refine draft language clarifying when director interpretations apply, to ensure applicants retain an avenue to request amendments, and to add explicit appeal citations to the ordinance language. The commission then voted to approve MCTA 26‑02 and continued the companion objective design standards discussion and remaining drafting to the June 4 meeting; staff and external consultants (Arroyo Group and Onyx Architects) will present updates so city council can receive materials ahead of its June 9 meeting.

Next steps: Staff will prepare the revised code language and return with the objective design standards update on June 4; staff also will include explicit appeal language and the code citations discussed on the record.