Article 1315
STREETSCAPE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Sections:
1315.02 Creation of streetscape advisory committee.
1315.03 Duties of the streetscape advisory committee.
1315.04 Integration into building permit application system.
1315.06 Advisory nature of committee and its comments.
1315.01 Statement of policy.
The city council is concerned that development may occur within the city which is technically consistent with the city’s zoning and other land use regulation but which does not maximize its potential benefit to the community because some developers may be unfamiliar with the city, its culture, needs, interests and concerns. The city council believes that the interests of developers and the interests of the city can be best served if a mechanism is created by which developers are afforded the benefit of receiving the views, comments and recommendations of knowledgeable citizens concerning proposed developments and the impact those developments will have upon the city and its neighborhoods. The city council has determined that its concern can be addressed through the creation of a special advisory committee to assist developers in maximizing their return upon their investments in the city while maximizing the benefits which their developments can bring to the community. (Ord. 3528 § 1, 1999)
1315.02 Creation of streetscape advisory committee.
There is hereby created among the committees, commissions and boards of the city a special advisory committee to be known as the streetscape advisory committee which shall consist of five members, each of whom shall be appointed by the city council of the City of Meadville. Persons appointed to the streetscape advisory committee shall serve for terms of five years; provided, that the terms of the initial appointees to the streetscape advisory committee shall serve for staggered terms as follows:
(A) The first person appointed to serve on the committee shall serve for an initial term of five years;
(B) The second person appointed to serve on the committee shall serve for an initial term of four years;
(C) The third person appointed to serve on the committee shall serve for an initial term of three years;
(D) The fourth person appointed to serve on the committee shall serve for an initial term of two years;
(E) The fifth person appointed to serve on the committee shall serve for an initial term of one year. (Ord. 3528 § 1, 1999)
1315.03 Duties of the streetscape advisory committee.
The streetscape advisory committee shall:
(A) Review all plans for the development of land located within the city which involve the construction of new buildings or the making of additions to existing structures for purposes other than single-family residential dwelling units; and
(B) Meet with all persons proposing the development of land within the city as defined in subsection (A) of this section to discuss the proposed development and to communicate to the proposed developers the views and concerns of the community related to:
(1) The appropriateness of the proposed use for the community and for the specific site proposed for development; and
(2) The aesthetic impact of the proposed development upon the community and the neighborhood in which the development is proposed; and
(3) Methods and means by which the proposed development can be made more responsive to the needs, interests and values of the community and of the neighborhood in which the development is proposed; and
(4) Such other matters as the committee may deem to be appropriate for each specific proposed development. (Ord. 3528 § 1, 1999)
1315.04 Integration into building permit application system.
(A) No application for the issuance of any building permit for any proposed development as defined in MMC 1315.03(A) shall be accepted unless and until the developer has requested a meeting with the streetscape advisory committee. It is recommended that all developers meet with the city’s streetscape advisory committee prior to submitting any plans for review and approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor; and
(B) Except as provided in MMC 1315.05(G), no building permits for projects of the size and type described in MMC 1315.03(A) shall be issued until after the conduct of a meeting between the applicant for the building permit and the streetscape advisory committee as required hereby. (Ord. 3528 § 1, 1999)
1315.05 Process.
The creation of the streetscape advisory committee is intended to provide a benefit and an asset to persons and entities proposing development within the city as well as to assure the citizens of the city that community needs, interests and values are considered by developers. The committee is directed to conduct its actions in a positive and realistic manner which does not delay or hinder development. The work of the streetscape advisory committee shall be conducted as follows:
(A) Notice of the existence of this article and of the streetscape advisory committee process governed hereby shall be included in the initial informational packets provided by the city to all potential developers.
(B) Notice of all proposed developments within the definition of MMC 1315.03 shall be provided to the streetscape advisory committee by the city’s director of planning and development within two business days after the day upon which such the city’s director of planning and development receives a request for a meeting from a potential developer of a project as defined in MMC 1315.03.
(C) The city’s director of planning and development shall be staff to the streetscape advisory committee. The director of planning and development may designate other city employees of the planning and development office to act in his absence as may be required for the business of the streetscape advisory committee.
(D) A meeting between the developer and the streetscape advisory committee should be scheduled within 10 calendar days of (but in no event more than 14 days after) the date of the giving of notice of the potential for such development to the streetscape advisory committee by the city’s planning director at a date and time reasonably convenient to the permit applicant and to a majority of the streetscape advisory committee by the city’s planning and development office.
(E) The streetscape advisory committee will review the proposed development and will communicate its views and concerns to the developer at the meeting scheduled in accord with subsection (D) of this section.
(F) The city’s planning and development office shall keep minutes of all meetings between the streetscape advisory committee and building permit applicants and shall forward copies of those minutes to the members of the streetscape advisory committee, the members of the city’s planning commission, to the members of the city council and to the potential developer within two business days of the date of any meeting.
(G) Should the streetscape advisory committee fail to meet or to take any other action required by this article within the time limitations herein set forth (except for a failure to meet with a potential developer as a result of the potential developer’s unreasonable refusal to cooperate in the scheduling of a time for a meeting), the applicant shall be deemed to have fully complied with the terms and requirements of this article and the building permit process for the proposed development shall be permitted to proceed without further action under this article. (Ord. 3528 § 1, 1999)
1315.06 Advisory nature of committee and its comments.
The comments, statements and recommendations of the streetscape advisory committee are advisory only and shall not in any way bind or restrict the actions of any developer or building permit applicant which are otherwise consistent with the laws, rules, regulations and ordinances of the United States of America, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Meadville. (Ord. 3528 § 1, 1999)