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Design Review Board Work Plan 2015 Agenda Item No. 4(A) ---PAGE BREAK--- Design Review Board Mission Statement The purpose of Design Review is to: • Preserve and enhance the character of El Cerrito’s existing neighborhoods. • Ensure that new development, construction and exterior improvements are consistent with the General Plan. • Encourage high quality design, well-crafted and maintained buildings and landscaping through the use of higher quality building materials. • Focus on the design and execution of building design and amenities in both public and private projects. ---PAGE BREAK--- DRB GUIDING PRICIPLES (Excerpt from the City’s Strategic Plan) Value: Innovation and Creativity: • Encourages thinking outside the box. • Fosters new and creative thinking and solutions. • Solves problems creatively and is open to new ideas. Value: Responsiveness: • Seeks and utilizes community input. • Engages - two way interaction. • Listens/responds actively. ---PAGE BREAK--- Value: Transparency and Open Communication: • Facilitates public participation in open meetings; encourages candor and welcomes input. • Listens carefully and remains open to different perspectives. • Engages in open, honest communication. • Actively seeks citizen participation; strives to keep the public informed and educated about community issues. ---PAGE BREAK--- Goal C: Deepen a sense of place and community identity Re-imagine underdeveloped and underutilized properties through advanced planning efforts that encourage investment and/or new development. ---PAGE BREAK--- Work Plan Tasks Task 1: Promote improvements to the back of sidewalk, in front of buildings. Task 2: Identify opportunity sites and craft preliminary development guidelines. Task 3: Review existing sign programs and propose enhancements. Task 4: Propose improvements to aging strip centers and work with owners to present a vision for their property. ---PAGE BREAK--- TASK 1 of the Work Plan Create materials for applicants, property/ business owners, illustrating ideas for improving and illustrating ideas for improving and updating street fronts and sidewalks. The goal is to encourage simple measures that contribute to placemaking, highlighting building frontage and strengthen the pedestrian scale of San Pablo Avenue. ---PAGE BREAK--- The Setting ---PAGE BREAK--- Ideas for Planters at Street front and Sidewalk Metal or ceramic planters flank create visual accents, and create a buffer between storefront windows and sidewalk. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Ideas for Wall Treatments Incorporating “wall art” is encouraged for larger, expansive, wall segments that are Adjacent to sidewalks. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Ideas for Sidewalk Seating Simple benches, and tables and chairs in front of businesses invite passersby and customers to stay while keeping sidewalk open for pedestrians. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Thank you.