C2B-KS29

Question 1

Design Review Boards

Answer 1

• Design Review Boards typically consist of design professionals appointed by the City Council to provide advice on new development projects and exterior changes to buildings.
• Other members of the community may be assigned to serve on the board as well, depending on the municipality.
• An Architectural Review Board is one example of a Design Review Board. Depending on how the various municipalities set up their committees and agencies, there may also be other types of Design Review Boards that review projects in historical neighborhoods, review for signage, or landscape design (or these could all be under the Architectural Review Board)
• Design Review Boards usually meet once or twice a month and meetings are typically open to the public which allows the public to voice any concerns about a particular project.

Example:

Mission of the City of Santa Monica’s Architectural Review Board— “The Architectural Review Board acts to preserve existing areas of natural beauty, cultural importance and assure that buildings, structures, signs or other developments are in good taste, good design, harmonious with surrounding developments, and in general contribute to the preservation of Santa Monica’s reputation as a place of beauty, spaciousness and quality.” —from the City of Santa Monica website

Question 2

Typically, Design Review Boards are typically advisory in nature.

True or False

Answer 2

True

• Final permit decisions are usually made by the Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, Planning Staff, or City Council.
• Design Review Board will make a recommendation (advisory) to the Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, Planning Staff, or City Council.

Question 3

What are the concerns of Design Review Board

Answer 3

• Appropriate use consistent with the neighborhood
• Massing of the building — is the size and scale of the building similar to the neighborhood
• Relationship of proposed building to neighboring buildings (each side of property, rear of property)
• Materials — stucco, brick, concrete, metal siding, wood siding — are the materials harmonious with the context of the neighborhood
• Color — is the color of the building consistent with the character of the neighborhood
• Landscape — is the landscaping proposed consistent with character of the neighborhood
• Location of Mechanical Equipment — is mechanical equipment visible from the street, does the mechanical equipment need screening if located on the roof
• Signage — is signage compatible with the character of the neighborhood?
• Site Lighting — is lighting consistent with neighborhood? Will lighting illuminate neighbors properties?
• Parking requirements — is the parking consistent with the neighborhood? i.e. not located in front of the building

Question 4

What are the Requirements of a Design Review Board?

Answer 4

From the City of Santa Monica’s Architectural Review Board website -

Architectural Review Board approval is required for new construction, additions or remodel of an existing
building, in all zones except RI.

-The Board has discretionary review over structures, major contour grading, landscaping, parking lots, mechanical equipment screening, and signs within the City of Santa Monica.

Question 5

Air Quality Management District

.

Answer 5

• Air Quality Management Districts are regional agencies located throughout California to regulate and control emission primarily from stationary sources.
• For the Project Scenario portion of the Exam, there will be a Regional Air Quality Management District wherever the project is located.

Example:

South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) for more information.

Mission Statement/About — The AQMD is the air pollution control agency for all of Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. This area of 10,743 square miles is home to over 16.8 million people - about half the population of the whole state of California. It is the second most populated urban area in the United States and one of the smoggiest.
AQMD has developed extensive programs including planning, regulation, compliance assistance, enforcement, monitoring, technology advancement, and public education

Question 6

How does the air quality regulatory process work?

Answer 6

from the AQMD website:

-Under the Federal Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes health-based air quality standards that all states must achieve. The California Clean Air Act also establishes requirements for cities and counties to meet.

-The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) develops plans and regulations designed to achieve these public health standards by reducing emissions from business and industry. AQMD’s Governing Board adopts plans and regulations for the region and then submits them to the California Air Resources Board and the Federal EPA for approval. By law, AQMD has
jurisdiction over businesses and other stationary sources, while the California Air Resources Board is responsible for reducing emissions from mobile sources, such as cars and trucks.

Question 7

County Flood Control District

Answer 7

• The County Flood Control District is a regional agency that protects people, property and watersheds from damage or destruction from flood and storm waters.
• Similar to the AQMD, for the Project Scenario portion of the Exam, there will be a County Flood Control District wherever the project is located.
• County Flood Control Districts typically have plans in place for reduction of storm water runoff, elimination of dry weather runoff, reduction of pollutants entering the storm drain system, expansion for uses for habitat and open space, and recreational opportunities.
• Check out the Los Angeles County’s Flood Control District for more information.

Question 8

California’s 2 major airport hubs are:

Answer 8

-San Francisco and Los Angeles are the major airport hubs in California.

Question 9

True or False. The San Francisco International Airport is a department of the City and County of San Francisco and the Airport Commission establishes the policies by which the airport operates.

Answer 9

True

Question 10

San Francisco’s Airport Commission consists of how many members?

Answer 10

The Airport commission consists of five members appointed by the Mayor.

Question 11

Los Angeles’ Airport Commission Consists of How Many members? Which airports does the commission operate and maintain?

Answer 11

• Los Angeles World Airports is a department of the City of Los Angeles governed by a seven member Board of Airport Commissioners.
• They operate and maintain three airports in the system; Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport, and Van Nuys Airport.

Question 12

What are the different types of airports in CA?

Answer 12

1. Commercial Service Airports — services the major airlines
2. General Aviation Airports — municipal airports that serve general aviation aircraft and depending on the size of the runways, may serve the smaller private jets as well.

Example: The City of Santa Monica Airport (which is where my office is located) is an example of a municipal
airport.

Question 13

Concerns of airport authorities for new development around an airport include:

Answer 13

• Proposed building height does not obstruct the flight path including any radio/cell phone antennas
• Proper marker lights on the top of buildings
• Local airport authorities (commercial and general aviation) may also develop standards for building heights, lighting requirements, noise abatement procedures, soundproofing, maximum noise levels in and around the airport

Question 14

Major concerns of neighbors near an airport include:

Answer 14

-Noise levels from planes during both day and night
Many municipal airports restrict nighttime flights (after 10:00 pm for example) unless an emergency

• Emissions from fuel and fuel exhaust
• Safety of surrounding neighborhoods, especially in close proximity to takeoff and landing portions of the runway
• Jetblast from jets increasing engine power just before takeoff (usually blast walls are installed)

Question 15

Environmental Health Department

Answer 15

• The County Department of Public Health is a regional agency that protects health, prevents disease, and promotes the health and well-being for all persons in the respective County.
• Similar to the AQMD and County Flood Control District, for the Project Scenario portion of the Exam, there will be a County Department of Public Health wherever the project is located.
• Check out the County of Los Angeles’ Department of Public Health for more information.

Question 16

The Environmental Health Division is concerned with the following areas;

Answer 16

Beaches 
Body Aft 
Chemical Hazards 
Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit 
Food 
Housing 
Indoor Air 
Landfills 
Lead Hazards 
Pests 
Public Pools 
Recycled Water 
Septic Tanks 
Water Wells