***COVID INFORMATION: During the pandemic, the LUDRC is meeting virtually. You can find the Zoom details for each meeting on our calendar at https://pointrichmond.org/calendar.***
Process Summary
The LUDRC works with the applicant and the community to find solutions to conflicts at the neighborhood level, before plans are reviewed by city-appointed review commissions. Committee recommendations are made by a consensus of the LUDRC members present. The projects and LUDRC recommendations are then reviewed by the PRNC General Membership. Once recommendations are finalized and approved by the General Membership they are forwarded to the Planning Department for consideration during the city’s project review process. The recommendations are included in minutes of the meeting which are published in the Newsletter of the following month.
The recommendations of the PRNC are advisory only. City boards and commissions make final determinations.
Meetings are open to the public.
Project Submittals for Land Use/Design Review Committee
Individuals planning to build or remodel must submit an application to the City of Richmond. The application package required for submittal to the City of Richmond can be found at: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/2102/FeesFormsChecklists
Applicants need to complete the Planning Application form and submit the checklist items in one of these two documents, depending on the project type:
-Design Review Permit – Single-Family Residential Project
-Design Review Permit – Multi-Family, CMU, Commercial or Industrial Development Projects
The graphic portions are what you should bring to the Neighborhood Council.
We encourage applicants to meet with us early in the design process to avoid delays or requests for significant revisions to design proposals. Items to be considered must be submitted to Rod Satre, Committee Chair THREE WEEKS in advance of the PRNC General Membership Meeting. The PRNC General Membership meets each month on the last Wednesday of the month. Contact Rod at rdsatre at live.com or (510) 232-5059. In-person meetings are at the Point Richmond Community Center located at 139 Washington Ave at 6:00pm. Until it is safe to gather in groups, the LUDRC virtual meetings will be held on Microsoft Teams. Contact Rod for access to the virtual meeting. Please attend if your project is being considered. Plan on attending the general membership meeting immediately thereafter at 7:30 in the same location at the Point Richmond Community Center.
The PRNC LUDRC highly encourages applicants to reach out and meet with impacted neighbors to have them review and provide feedback on their project before submitting to the LUDRC.
Point Richmond Neighborhood Council
After the LUDRC subcommittee hears the project and takes a vote on the proposal, the PRNC will hold a general membership vote at the meeting following the LUDRC meeting. The general membership may accept, reject or alter the recommendation of the subcommittee. The PRNC general membership meeting begins at 7:30pm on the last Wednesday of the month. In-person meetings are at the Point Richmond Community Center located at 139 Washington Ave. Until it is safe to gather in groups, the LUDRC virtual meetings will be held on Zoom. Contact pointrichmondneighborhood@gmail.com for access to the virtual meeting.
Point Richmond Historic District
If this is a contributing structure to the Point Richmond Historic District, exterior changes will have to conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s standards. If exterior alterations are contemplated, it would be a good idea to retain a historic architect. For information about the historic district, including a boundary map, see the U.S. Department of the Interior listing.
Subsequent City Process
If the structure is within the historic district or is a historic structure, the project will proceed to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) for design review and the Planning Commission for any land use decisions, such as conditional use permits. Decisions of the HPC may be appealed the Planning Commission.
If the structure does not fall within the historic district and is not a historic resource outside the district, the project will proceed to the Design Review Board (DRB) for design review and the Planning Commission for any land use decisions, such as conditional use permits. Decisions of the DRB may be appealed to the Planning Commission.
Some Design Review applications are processed by staff as administrative design review. Projects that qualify for staff review include new single-story homes and duplexes less than 1,200 square feet, and single-story additions less than 1,200 square feet. Examples of projects that require design review by the DRB and HPC include single-family home/duplexes greater than 1,200 square feet, large additions over 1,200 square feet, or additions over 15 feet in height.
