Design Review Process

Step 1: Initial Application

  1. Documents as required by Planning Official to ensure adequate review and legal wellbeing including but not limited to elevations, landscaping, connectivity, etc. shall be provided to the city at the time of application submittal. The city will notify the applicant within 30 days if additional information is required.
  2. A review fee will be charged at the submittal of an application.
  3. The application will be issued a city file number.
  4. The city will issue a 300’ radius notice list and provide a template notice letter.
  5. The city will send the application materials to the consultant(s), stakeholder agencies, and post the application materials on the city’s website.

Step 2: Neighborhood Meeting Notice

Before an application is scheduled for a consultation a neighborhood meeting must be held by the applicant to allow for the public’s questions and input.

  1. Radius Notice:  The applicant will notice all property owners of record within 300’ of the project at least 15 days in advance of the neighborhood meeting.  The noticing shall be in conformance with the noticing documents provided by the City, and include the following information:
    1. Application file number.
    2. Date, time, and location of the neighborhood meeting.
    3. If there is interest in the application, a member of the public may notify the City of their desire to be an interested party.  The City will inform interested parties of revised materials, the intent to approve/deny the application, and any appeal hearing dates.
    4. Written concerns will be added to the record documents reviewed by the Design Consultant(s) if received 7 days or more in advance of the application review.
    5. If the member of the public is affected, as defined by Idaho Code 67-6521, written comment received by the city 7 days or more in advance of the consultation creates the ability to appeal.  Those who do not provide written comment 7 days or more do not have the ability to appeal the decision.
  1. Site posting:  The applicant shall have the property posting on the development site at least 10 days before the neighborhood meeting with the neighborhood meeting information.
    1. Notice Size:  The notice(s) shall consist of a four-foot by four-foot (4’ x 4’) plywood or other hard surface mounted on two (2) four-inch by four-inch (4” x 4”) posts.
    2. Notice Lettering:  Centered at the top of the four-foot by four-foot (4’ x 4’) notice(s) in six-inch (6”) letters shall be the words “Neighborhood Meeting Notice”.  The date of the neighborhood meeting shall be in bold four-inch (4”) letters.  The remainder of the notice shall be in two-inch (2”) letters.  Each notice shall be painted white, and the letters shall be painted black and shall appear on both sides.
    3. Notice Content:  Each notice shall inform the public of the nature of the meeting, the date, time, and address of the meeting, a summary of the proposal, the address of the proposal, the name and contact information of the applicant, and an approved city contact email (planning@gardencityidaho.org).
    4. Notice Placement:  The notices shall be posted on the property being considered along each street that is adjacent to the subject property boundaries.  The notice(s) shall be located on the property, outside of the public right-of-way.  If the notice cannot be placed on the property and still be clearly visible, the notice may be placed within the right-of-way if the applicant can obtain the consent of the owner of the right-of-way.  The notice shall be posted perpendicular to the street and mounted so that the bottom of the notice is at least three feet (3’) above the ground.
    5. Proof of Posting:  The applicant shall submit a notarized statement and a photograph of the posting in accordance with Garden City Code and policies to the city.
    6. Notice Removal:  The notice(s) shall be removed no later than three (3) days after the neighborhood meeting for which the notice(s) had been posted is ended.

Step 3: Neighborhood Meeting

  1. Neighborhood meetings shall be required not more than three (3) months before the scheduled Design Consultant(s) review of the application.
  2. The meeting shall be held Monday through Thursday between five-thirty o’clock (5:30) P.M. and eight o’clock (8:00) P.M.
  3. A sign-in sheet in accordance with the city’s requirements shall be provided for the public to sign-in.  If there is no public in attendance, this should be noted on the sign-in sheet.
  4. A list of discussion points shall be kept.

 

Step 4: Scheduling of Consultation

  1. Once the neighborhood meeting has occurred, the applicant shall submit the Affidavit of Neighborhood Meeting, the Affidavit of Property Posting; pictures of the property posting sign on site, copy of the 300' radius notice list, copy of the neighborhood meeting notice letter, neighborhood meeting sign-in sheet, and a list of all items discussed during the neighborhood meeting. 
  2. The planning official shall issue a notice of application acceptance by scheduling a consultation with the Design Review Consultant(s), the applicant, and staff within 30 days of receipt of all required application materials.
  3. The consultation shall not be scheduled any sooner than 15 days after the neighborhood meeting.
  4. Written comments can be submitted for record up to 7 days in advance of the consultation. Written public comments will be included in the materials that are reviewed by the consultant(s) and staff.
  5. Staff will generate a staff report identifying the applicable code.
  6. The consultants will provide comments that identify items of consequence that warrants change or discussion.

Step 5: Design Review Consultant Consultation

  1. Prior to the consultation, the applicant will receive the staff report, public comments, consultant comments, and agency comments.
  2. During the consultation the consultants will provide interactive feedback to guide the application within the confines of the code.
  3. Oral testimony will not be permitted by the public during the consultation.
  4. Based on the consultation feedback the Planning Official or designee will:
    1. Approve as submitted;
    2. Approve with changes conditioned;
    3. Request changes and resubmittal;
    4. Denial.
  5. If necessary, an additional consultation may be required.
  6. For projects that have components that will be heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission, such as a conditional use permit or subdivision, a decision must be rendered regarding the design prior to Planning and Zoning Commission’s review.
  7. A decision document including findings of fact, conclusions of law, and the decision will be issued by staff based on the design consultant’s review for applications.

Step 6: Post-Consultation Determination

  1. Garden City staff will notify interested parties of the decision and that they can object to the decision within 15 days if they are an affected person, as defined by Idaho Code 67-6521.  If there is an objection within 15 days of the decision, a hearing with the City Council will be scheduled.

  2. Per Garden City Code 8-6A-2 and 8-6A-9, the City Council may elect to review the application, if the City Council determines that there is a significant adverse impact to the city as a result of the decision.  If the City Council determines that there is a significant adverse impact, the Council should declare this in the public meeting within fifteen days of the decision and staff will schedule a public hearing that is not de novo (on the already established record).