Design Review Process

By Henry D. I. Abarbanel

My views on the value of the Design Review Process and how we can improve it for all residents

During this election season, I plan to write to you with my ideas on issues important to everyone in Del Mar. My overall goal is to work with you to build the community we all chose to live in. I hope to communicate my thoughts on how we can do this together.

Today I would like to talk about our Community Plan, our design review process, why I think it has worked, and changes I suggest for further discussions.

The Community Plan was created in the mid-1970's by a dedicated group of residents whose vision for Del Mar was that of a community with a prized quality of life coupled with great respect for the property rights of individuals. One idea in this was that everyone gives up a little to gain a lot. This was an impressive goal, and many at the time decried it as unworkable, likely to lead to substantially reduced property values, or even just too radical. The voters adopted that Community Plan, and these worries have not come to pass.

The implementation of the Community Plan involved the creation of a design review process to ensure that proposed projects fit within our guidelines. An important goal of the process was to have a completed project where the neighborhoods are also harmonious, and the bonds of community are preserved. This was audacious and bold for that time. Other communities in California are now seeing the value of this idea.

The vast majority of projects undertaken in Del Mar follow this process with ease. There are exceptions, and these are the ones we hear most about. One problem, very dramatically highlighted in recent times, is the enforcement of the decisions made by the DRB.

Once an application is considered and a project has been approved by the DRB, the applicant signs an agreement to do what is written in that document. Who enforces that? The view in Del Mar has long been that honesty among the residents will work to enforce these agreements. In those instances where this is not happening, there is a code enforcement process, including court orders in extreme cases. Information on violations often comes from the neighborhood where eyes on the project are more intense. This view of "Trust, but no need to verify" has worked pretty well, but some severe violations of this in recent times have spotlighted its weaknesses.

My suggestion is for us to consider a "Trust, but verify" approach. To implement this, a third party professional "verification inspector" would be brought in to oversee large projects. The cost for this should not be borne by the taxpayers. This removes the neighbors from being the reporters of violations and prevents the awkward situations for the owners who find themselves with a project in violation through unintended actions. Everyone involved will have the benefit of a third party intervener to keep the project on track.

Everyone giving up a little to gain a lot is how our Community Plan contributes to Del Mar's vision. It has created a community we are proud to live in and, indeed, it is this sense of community that attracted many of us here in the first place. Even good processes can be improved. I am committed to a regular review of our community-based procedures. Working together to refine and improve the design review process and the excellent basic ideas of the Community Plan is worth the effort--just look around your own neighborhood.

I have a record of working well with all residents in Del Mar; I do this best when I have your input. Please bring me your questions, your problems, and your priorities. Call me at 481 2749 or e-mail me at hdiadelmar@yahoo.com . I appreciate your input. I ask for your vote on November 2 to re-elect me to the Del Mar City Council.

Paid for by Abarbanel for Council, 1110 Crest Road, Del Mar, CA 92014-2620 J. Rod Franklin, Treasurer