Sponsor
Alderman Wisneski
Title
ORDINANCE NO. 15-11
To repeal Section 114-638, Land Uses, and 114-638.5, Applicability, and recreate as Sec. 114-638 Applicability of the Racine Municipal Code of the City of Racine, Wisconsin.
To repeal Sec. 114-639, Development Review Committee, and recreate as Sec. 114-639 Development and Design Review of the Racine Municipal Code of the City of Racine, Wisconsin.
The Common Council of the City of Racine do ordain as follows:
Part 1:
Sec. 114-638, Applicability, of the Municipal Code of the City of Racine is hereby created to read as follows:
“Sec. 114-638. Applicability
(a) Design guidelines contained in this division shall apply to all facilities such as, but not limited to, office, commercial, residential facilities containing five or more living units, lodging, museum, theater, governmental, parking and utility facilities, excepting that maintenance and repair activities that do not alter the property’s exterior design features are exempt from the requirements of this division. Planned developments as defined in article III, division 3, of this chapter shall not require review under article VI of this chapter.
(b) The director of city development shall review projects within those portions of the State Street corridor district that are also within the River sub-district and lie west, north and northwest of the Root River, and areas within the State Street corridor sub-district, as described in the “Downtown Design Standards” adopted by common council resolution number 06-7041 of May 16, 2006, using the design considerations contained in that document and in the “Downtown Design Guidelines” adopted by common council resolution number 06-7040 of May 16, 2006.
Part 2:
Sec. 114-639, Development Review Committee and Sec. 114-639, Development and Design Review, of the Municipal Code of the City of Racine is hereby repealed and recreated to read as follows:
“Sec. 114-639. Development and Design Review
(a) The director of city development shall review applications for conformance with evaluation criteria established by the common council for all projects having an aggregate cost of $5,000.00 or more for all new exterior construction activities, all building expansions, and all exterior renovation or rehabilitation activities.
(b) The director of city development shall review all applications for exterior signs for conformance with evaluation criteria established by the common council.
(c) The director of city development shall review applications for all listed permitted and conditional uses in the underlying zoning district in the access corridor district, except single- and two-family residences, for conformance with the applicable adopted corridor plans.
(d) Applications for use or design review shall be filed with the director of city development. Upon receipt of an application, the director of city development shall transmit a copy of the application to the local alderperson, the chairperson of any business improvement district within which the property is located, and the representative of any membership organization that has as its purpose the improvement of the commercial area in which the property is located and which has registered with the department of city development.
(e) Review shall be conducted within 21 days after the application is filed with the director of city development or the activity shall be deemed approved.
(f) The director of city development shall issue written findings to the chief building inspector within the 21-day review period. The director of city development shall transmit a copy of the findings to the local alderperson, the chairperson of any business improvement district within which the property is located, and the representative of any membership organization that has as its purpose the improvement of the commercial area in which the property is located and which has registered with the department of city development. The written findings shall indicate whether or not the proposed activity being reviewed meets the corridor evaluation criteria, and the findings shall be immediately transmitted to the applicant. Findings that the evaluation criteria are met shall be approval of the activity; findings that the evaluation criteria are not met shall be disapproval of the activity. If the evaluation criteria are found not to be met, the applicant may file revised plans for review by the director of city development addressing any deficiencies.
(g) The chief building inspector shall issue building and/or occupancy permits within the corridor districts for projects requiring review, after receiving written approval by the director of city development or, in the event of an appeal, by the common council, except as otherwise provided herein, and in addition to other approvals required by law, ordinance or regulation.
(h) An applicant may appeal a decision of the director of city development. Appeals shall be made to the city plan commission and filed with the department of city development. The appeal shall be filed with the department of city development within 15 days after the director of city development issues the written decision. The plan commission shall consider the appeal and make a recommendation to the common council within 30 days after the appeal was filed.
(i) The local alderperson, the chairperson of any business improvement district within which the property is located, or the representative of any membership organization that has as its purpose the improvement of the commercial area in which the property is located and which has registered with the department of city development may appeal a decision of the director of city development. Appeals shall be made to the city plan commission and filed with the department of city development. The appeal shall be filed with the department of city development within 15 days after the director of city development issues a written decision. The plan commission shall consider the appeal and make a recommendation to the common council within 30 days after the appeal was filed.
Part 3:
This ordinance shall take effect upon passage and the day after publication.
Passed by the Common Council
Approved
Mayor
Attest:
City Clerk
Fiscal Note: N/A