Every property, home, business, landscape, zone, fence, and development is potentially impacted by the proposed Design Guidelines. 

“It would be really helpful if some sort of an Executive Summary was provided briefly describing exactly what these changes are relative to existing guidelines. An explanation
regarding the need for these changes and what impact they will have on specific sites ( Valero Gas Station, for example ) should also be included.” PCA Commenter

To try to understand the new Design Guideline changes residents will need to spend hours reading the proposal and checking it against the existing guidelines. 

As an aid to understanding what will be different in the future, community members requested an Executive Summary of the voluminous pages in the proposed Design Guidelines.  None was produced. 

Upon an inquiry by PCA made to Planning Director Kevin Jackson, he stated,  “The report itself is an executive summary. If you are interested in what is changing in the guidelines, I suggest you review pages 4-6 of the report and Attachment 2-A on pages 13-21.” 5/23/19

Below is an entire list of the various Chapters of the proposal as posted on the City website:

• Cover and Table of Contents
• Chapter 1 – Introduction
• Chapter 2 – Design Review Process
• Chapter 3 – Site Design
• Chapter 4 – Building Design: General
• Chapter 5 – Building Design: Single-Family
• Chapter 6 – Building Design: Multi-Family
• Chapter 7 – Building Design: Commercial and Mixed-Use
• Glossary

Within the proposed Guidelines, there are numerous professionally taken color photos of “YES” AND “NO” designs either meeting or failing the guidelines. 

Readers might find it interesting to see if their home is pictured as a YES, meeting proposed Design Guidelines, by clicking the Chapter links above. 

Changes to building requirements were considered by a staff chosen group of individuals, plus two Planning Commissioners, Behrens and Ramsey, who met a number of times with the City consultants and Planning staff.  No neighborhoods were included in the deliberations and no public notice or general public participation was included in the development of the Guidelines.  The proposed Design Guidelines have been presented as a package to Piedmont decision makers – Planning Commission and City Council. 

The Planning Commission has recommended approval of  the Guidelines.  The City Council will give a one time consideration of the Guidelines at their meeting Monday, May 3, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue.  The meeting is open to public participation, and the meeting will be broadcast live on Cable Channel 27 and the City website under videos/ City Council. 

Throughout the Guidelines, there are  references to prior documents – General Plan and Zoning Ordinance.  Those not regularly working with the planning process will find it difficult to ferret out the changes proposed and their impact upon their property or neighborhood. Most residents will learn of the Guidelines when projects are considered by the Planning Department. 

If you have the time or interest to read the proposal, the Design Guidelines are available at:

Staff report for 6/3/19 is below:

06/03/19 – Consideration of the Adoption of Design Guidelines

Below is the City notice regarding the proposed changes.

If you wish to write to the City Council regarding the proposed updated Design Guidelines, please send an email to citycouncil@piedmont.ca.gov or send a letter to Piedmont City Council, c/o City Clerk’s office 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611.