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CommunityPlanning

Commercial and Multi-Family Residential Design Standards Project 


Safeway.jpgWelcome to the Commercial and Multi-Family Residential Design Standards Project webpage. The project is utilizing a community-based planning process and will result in comprehensive design standards for commercial and multi-family residential projects in the County’s four unincorporated Community Regions: Shingle Springs, Cameron Park, Diamond Springs/El Dorado, and El Dorado Hills. Shingle Springs is serving as the project’s prototype community. Based upon the process and design standards developed for Shingle Springs, design standards will be prepared for the remaining three Community Regions.

The Design Standards are being developed in collaboration with Community Advisory Teams (CATs) that include interested residents, business and property owners, and design, development and real estate professionals. The project will also incorporate input from the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Board-appointed Community and Economic Development Advisory Committee (CEDAC), County planning staff, key stakeholders, and members of the public.

The Design Standards will address building and site design and document appropriate architectural themes for future commercial and multi-family development. The standards will reflect each Community Region's established development characteristics and aesthetic preferences and provide clear expectations for future development. This approach is intended to simplify and expedite the project review process, reduce development fees, and encourage desired development.

This webpage provides up-to-date information on the project’s planning process. Check back often for information on upcoming public workshops and meetings, documents to review, and other opportunities to participate in the process and provide feedback. Also, to receive project updates and meeting information, please subscribe to the project News & Updates email list by clicking on the link in the upper right-hand corner of this page.  

Shingle Springs Commercial/Multi-Family Residential Design Standards

The Shingle Springs Commercial/Multi-Family Residential Design Standards will be developed building upon previous community planning efforts from local citizen groups and organizations, including the Shingle Springs Community Alliance (SSCA).  This document will be developed to define the character of future commercial and multi-family residential development within the Shingle Springs Community Region. The project will result in comprehensive, community-specific design regulations and also serve as the lead prototype for commercial/multi family residential design standards for the other Community Regions (Cameron Park, Diamond Springs/El Dorado and El Dorado Hills). 

Community-specific events, materials and documents will be posted below in the order of occurrence/publication.


Meetings/Workshops

Information Pending

Documents

Documents Pending

Cameron Park Commercial/Multi-Family Residential Design Standards/Guidelines

The Cameron Park Commercial/Multi-Family Residential Design Standards will build upon previous input from the Cameron Park Design Review Committee and other community organizations and will define the character of future development in the Cameron Park Community Region. Using the previously developed design standards for the Shingle Springs Community Region as a template, these standards will result in comprehensive, community-specific design regulations for future commercial and multi-family residential development. Community-specific event details and materials and documents will be posted below in the order of occurrence/publication.


Meetings/Workshops

Workshop information pending

Documents

Documents Pending

​Diamond Springs/El Dorado Commercial/Multi-Family Residential Design Standards/Guidelines

The Diamond Springs/El Dorado Commercial and Multi-Family Residential Design Standards will build upon previous input from the Diamond Springs and El Dorado Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and other community organizations and will define the character of future development in the Diamond Springs/El Dorado Community Region. Using the previously developed design standards for the Shingle Springs Community Region as a template, these standards will result in comprehensive, community-specific design standards for future commercial and multi-family residential development. Community-specific event details and materials and documents will be posted below in the order of occurrence/publication.


Meetings/Workshops

 

Workshop information Pending


Documents

Document Information Pending

El Dorado Hills Commercial/Multi-Family Residential Design Standards/Guidelines

The El Dorado Hills Commercial and Multi-Family Residential Design Standards will build upon previous input from the El Dorado Hills Area Planning Advisory Committee (APAC) and other community organizations and will help define the character of future development in the El Dorado Hills Community Region. Using the previously developed design standards for the Shingle Springs Community Region as a template, these standards will result in comprehensive, community-specific design standards for future commercial and multi-family residential development. Community-specific event details and materials and documents will be posted below in the order of occurrence/publication.



Meetings/Workshops

Meeting/Workshop Information Pending

Documents

Document Information Pending

El Dorado County Board of Supervisors and El Dorado County Planning Commission Meetings

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors (Board) and El Dorado County Planning Commission (Planning Commission) are providing input and direction on the development of the Design Standards/Guidelines at key milestones during the project’s planning processes and will consider the adoption of the communities’ Design Standards/Guidelines at the conclusion of the process for each identified community. Board and Planning Commission meeting details and materials are listed below in the order of occurrence/publication.

  • Upcoming Board and Planning Commission Workshops Pending

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Commercial/Multi-Family Residential Design Standards Project?

The Commercial/Multi-Family Residential Design Standards Project is a community-based planning effort that will result in comprehensive objective design regulations for commercial and multi-family residential projects in four of El Dorado County’s unincorporated communities: Shingle Springs, Cameron Park, Diamond Springs/El Dorado, and El Dorado Hills. The standards will address all aspects of construction and site design, and document architectural themes rooted in each community's building tradition. They will also provide conceptual site designs to demonstrate how the standards can be applied to the different kinds of sites present in the community, and include objective performance standards (e.g. specific paint colors, minimum number and type of windows per building frontage, number and type of landscaping plantings to screen exterior walls, etc.) to assist staff and developers with implementing the approved standards.

The project comprises two components. Component 1 will focus on the development of design standards for Shingle Springs, the project’s prototype community. Based upon the approach developed for Shingle Springs, Component 2 will involve the preparation of design standards/guidelines for the remaining three communities.

The project will be led by El Dorado County Long Range Planning staff and award-winning design consultants Mintier Harnish and the Orr Design Group.   


Why is the County Undertaking the Project?

The County is undertaking the project to implement El Dorado County General Plan policy direction to prepare design standards/guidelines for the communities that are developed in collaboration with community members and seek to identify, maintain, and enhance the community’s character and unique identity. By defining the community’s aesthetic preferences for commercial and multi-family residential development, the community can achieve greater certainty that future development will positively contribute to communities’ character and identity. The project builds upon the County’s previous efforts to create and implement a community-based planning process framework. Specifically, the project utilizes the approach described in the County’s Community Planning Guide. The County is also embarking on the effort to help simplify and expedite the project review process. This will reduce project costs and encourage development that will benefit the community, including residential projects that satisfy the unmet demand for multi-family housing.


Will the New Design Standards be Mandatory?

Yes.  This project focuses on the creation of objective design standards, binding regulations that future commercial and multi-family residential projects in each Community Region  (CR) must meet.  Once standards are adopted for each CR, new commercial and multifamily development will be required to comply with that community's design standards.   Until such time as design standards are adopted, new commercial and multifamily residential development will be required to be consistent with current zoning regulations and applicable provisions of state law.  


How will the New Commercial/Multi-Family Residential Design Standards be Used?

The County’s new Commercial and Multi-Family Residential Design Standards will be utilized by both developers and members of the public to understand the County’s expectations for commercial and multi-family residential development.  The new standards will be implemented by County staff (e.g. Building and Planning Division) who will review submitted development plans and verify that such plans are consistent with the adopted standards.


What is the Project Schedule?

The Board of Supervisors initiated this project in 2019. The initial Shingle Springs’ component will be completed first, while the remainder of the project will be completed for the other identified communites.  Targeted completion dates and public engagement opportunities will be posted to this webpage as they are developed.  Key project components include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Existing Conditions - The County will analyze the General Plan, the Zoning Ordinance, the County and the communities’ existing design standards and guidelines, and other background resources, along with development in the communities’ commercial and multi-family residential areas, to gain an understanding of the existing policy and regulatory framework and each community’s current state of development.

  • Outreach Step 1 - The County will meet with the communities’ Community Advisory Group (CAT), stakeholders, members of the public, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Supervisors (Board) to identify the key issues and aesthetic and character preferences that the standards and guidelines should address.

  • Design Standards/Guidelines Development - In collaboration with the CATs, the County will develop the design guidelines/standards for each community.

  • Outreach Step 2 - The County will present and the receive the public’s input on the Public Review Draft Design Guidelines Standards at open house-style workshops.

  • Adoption - The County will finalize the Design Standards/Guidelines, complete the necessary environmental review analysis, and present the documents to the Planning Commission and Board for adoption.

How can I Participate in Project’s Planning Process?

As a community-based planning process, the Design Standards/Guidelines’ outreach process includes a variety of opportunities and ways for the public to participate. See the list below for the project’s various types of outreach activities. Please take advantage of these many opportunities to learn, provide input, and help create standards and guidelines that perpetuate desirable commercial and multi-family development in your community.

  • Community Advisory Team

For each community, the County will organize a CAT, comprising residents, property and business owners, employees, development professionals, and other interested parties, to provide detailed input on drafting of the design standards/guidelines. The CATs will serve as the primary source of community input on the project and meet frequently throughout the duration of the design standards/guidelines’ development.

  • Public Workshops

Workshop sessions will be held in each community to receive community input on a customized set of draft design standards.  At each workshop, staff and design consultants will receive input on architectural theme, character, and community-specific building and site design preferences. 

  • Planning Commission and Board Meetings

The County will conduct public hearings and workshops before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to consider the Design Standards. Community members are encouraged to attend these meetings.

  • Public Review Draft Design Standards

Public Review Draft Design Standards will be made available to the public for review and feedback before each set of design standards is completed and prepared for final adoption.

Why Should I Participate?

El Dorado County is committed to involving the community in the planning process. The Design Standards/Guidelines process provides residents, business and property owners, development professionals, and other interested parties the chance to help define the communities’ desired character, architectural themes, and development characteristics that the design standards will be based upon. The project will reflect the communities’ preferences, and staff and design consultants believe each citizen's voice is vital to identifying the key issues and aesthetic and character preferences that the standards should address.


How Will My Feedback be Used?

Public input from every engagement activity will be meticulously reviewed and documented to ensure County staff and decision-makers have a full understanding of public sentiment when developing the design standards/guidelines. To best ensure that the project reflects the communities’ priorities and preferences, public feedback will be considered throughout the process.


How can I Stay Informed About Participation Opportunities and the Project’s Process?

Visit the project webpage to learn more about the project, view the dates of upcoming meetings and public workshops and review meeting materials and draft documents. There will be many opportunities for public participation throughout the process.  All public meetings, workshops, and draft standards documents will be posted on the webpage as information becomes available.  To receive project updates, interested parties may also sign up for the project's email list on the link provided at the top of the project webpage. 

 

​Project-Wide Documents

Some documents will be prepared on a project-wide basis and apply to design standards for all of the County's four Community Regions (Shingle Springs, Cameron Park, Diamond Springs/El Dorado and El Dorado Hills).  Project-wide documents will be posted below in the order of publication once they are released.

Documents