Salem, Oregon
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Design Review
Design review is required for certain types of development or in specified areas of the city. These are development types or areas of Salem where design requirements have been established to achieve a desired community character, promote greater compatibility between uses, and promote established principlesRemodel and Repair Historic Buildings of urban design. Design review is based on either prescriptive and non-discretionary design review standards or more flexible and discretionary design review guidelines. You can check the zoning of your property to determine if design review is required, or you can consult a planner.
Design review is required for multifamily development and the remodel and repair of historic buildings and for most development in Mixed Use zones. Information on the Historic Design Review process can be found here.
- Class 1 Design Review applies to developments that are intended to be reviewed based on the prescriptive design review standards.
- Class 2 Design Review applies to developments that are intended to be reviewed based on the more flexible design review guidelines, but the scope of the project is limited to building alterations that will be contained within the footprint of the existing building and that will utilize the same building materials and same window and facade designs.
- Class 3 Design Review applies to developments that are intended to be reviewed based on the more flexible design review guidelines
Procedure Type
An application for Class 1 Design Review is processed following the Type I application procedures under SRC Chapter 300.
Process
- Pre-application conference. You must request a pre-application conference prior to submitting your application, or you must request a waiver.
- Application. You must submit all required items listed in the application checklist section below to the Permit Application Center Portal.
- Completeness review. Staff reviews your application for completeness. If the application is not complete, you will be notified as to what information is missing, and you will have 180 days to submit the additional information. You may track the status of your application online at the City of Salem permit tracking webpage.
- Conformance review. Once a complete application is submitted, staff reviews the proposed plan to determine if it meets the criteria in SRC 225.005(e)(1).
- Decision. The Planning Administrator makes a decision to approve or deny your application depending on whether or not the proposal meets the applicable criteria.
Application Checklist
An application for a Class 1 Design Review must contain the following:
- Land use application form. The land use application form must be signed by the applicant(s), property owner(s), and/or duly authorized representative(s). If the applicant and/or property owner is a Limited Liability Company (LLC), please also provide a list of all members of the LLC with your land use application. The land use form will be generated for you when you submit through the Permit Application Center Portal.
- Land use application fee. You must pay the application fee when you file your application.
- Recorded deed. You must submit a copy of the recorded deed/land sales contract for the existing units of land.
- Site plan. The site plan must include the following information:
- Total site area, dimensions, and orientation relative to north
- The complete dimensions and setbacks of the lot, and all existing and proposed buildings and structures, including the location, size, height, proposed use, design, and gross floor area of each building
- Location of proposed primary and accessory structures and other improvements, including fences, walls, and driveways, indicating distance to such structures from property lines and adjacent on-site structures
- All existing and proposed walls and fences, including the location, height, type of design, and composition
- The location and design of the existing and proposed on-site pedestrian and vehicle circulation system
- Locations and dimensions of all existing and proposed outdoor storage areas including but not limited to trash collection and recycling areas
- Building Elevations. Architectural drawings, renderings, or sketches showing all elevations of proposed buildings as they will appear on completion.
- Landscape Plan. The landscape plan must show the location of natural features, trees, and plant materials proposed to be removed, retained, or planted; the amount, height, type, and location of landscaped areas, planting beds, and plant materials and provisions for irrigation
- Topographic Survey and Grading Plan. A topographic survey and grading plan showing two-foot contour intervals on hillside lots and five-foot contour intervals on all other lots
- Open Space Plan. An open space plan drawn to scale showing locations of common and private open space, including active and passive recreational areas. The open space plan must show the total area of individual classifications of proposed open space.
- Written Statement. A written statement shall be submitted describing the proposal and how it conforms to the following approval criteria for Class 1 Design Review (SRC 225.005(e)(1)):
- A Class 1 Design Review shall be approved if all of the applicable design review standards are met. (Note: In demonstrating conformance with this approval criterion, the written statement must identify how the proposed development conforms to each of the applicable design review standard)
Procedure Type
An application for Class 2 Design Review is processed following the Type II application procedures under SRC Chapter 300.
Process
- Pre-application conference. You must request a pre-application conference prior to submitting your application, or you must request a waiver.
- Application. You must submit all required items listed in the application checklist section below to the Permit Application Center Portal.
- Completeness review. Staff reviews your application for completeness. If the application is not complete, you will be notified as to what information is missing, and you will have 180 days to submit the additional information. You may track the status of your application online at the City of Salem permit tracking webpage.
- Public comment period. Once the required information is submitted and the application is deemed complete:
- Staff sends a notice of proposal to the applicant, property owner(s), neighborhood association, property owners within 250 feet, all addresses within 250 ft., all addresses on the subject property, and any active and duly incorporated Homeowner's Association (HOA) involving the subject property, indicating a public comment period of 14 days.
- Conformance review. Once a complete application is submitted, staff reviews the proposed plan to determine if it meets the criteria in SRC 225.005(e)(2).
- Decision. The Planning Administrator makes a decision to approve or deny your application depending on whether or not the proposal meets the applicable criteria.
- Staff sends a copy of the decision (noting the 15-day appeal period) to you, the property owner, the neighborhood association, neighboring property owners within 250 feet, all addresses within 250 ft., all addresses on the subject property, and any active and duly incorporated Homeowner's Association (HOA) involving the subject property.
Application Checklist
An application for a Class 2 Design Review must contain the following:
- Land use application form. The land use application form must be signed by the applicant(s), property owner(s), and/or duly authorized representative(s). If the applicant and/or property owner is a Limited Liability Company (LLC), please also provide a list of all members of the LLC with your land use application. The land use form will be generated for you when you submit through the Permit Application Center Portal.
- Land use application fee. You must pay the application fee when you file your application.
- Recorded deed. You must submit a copy of the recorded deed/land sales contract for the existing units of land.
- Homeowners Association Information. A statement indicating whether the subject property is subject to an active and duly incorporated Homeowner's Association (HOA) registered with the Oregon Secretary of State. If so, the applicant shall provide the HOA name, name of the registered agent and the mailing address for the registered agent.
- Site plan. The site plan must include the following information:
- Total site area, dimensions, and orientation relative to north
- The complete dimensions and setbacks of the lot, and all existing and proposed buildings and structures, including the location, size, height, proposed use, design, and gross floor area of each building
- Location of proposed primary and accessory structures and other improvements, including fences, walls, and driveways, indicating distance to such structures from property lines and adjacent on-site structures
- All existing and proposed walls and fences, including the location, height, type of design, and composition
- The location and design of the existing and proposed on-site pedestrian and vehicle circulation system
- Locations and dimensions of all existing and proposed outdoor storage areas including but not limited to trash collection and recycling areas
- Building Elevations. Architectural drawings, renderings, or sketches showing all elevations of proposed buildings as they will appear on completion.
- Landscape Plan. The landscape plan must show the location of natural features, trees, and plant materials proposed to be removed, retained, or planted; the amount, height, type, and location of landscaped areas, planting beds, and plant materials and provisions for irrigation
- Topographic Survey and Grading Plan. A topographic survey and grading plan showing two-foot contour intervals on hillside lots and five-foot contour intervals on all other lots
- Open Space Plan. An open space plan drawn to scale showing locations of common and private open space, including active and passive recreational areas. The open space plan must show the total area of individual classifications of proposed open space.
- Written Statement. A written statement shall be submitted describing the proposal and how it conforms to the following approval criteria for Class 2 Design Review (SRC 225.005(e)(2)):
- A Class 2 Design Review shall be approved if all of the applicable design review standards are met. (Note: In demonstrating conformance with this approval criterion, the written statement must identify how the proposed development conforms to each of the applicable design review standard)
Procedure Type
An application for Class 3 Design Review is processed following the Type III application procedures under SRC Chapter 300.
Process
- Pre-application conference. You must request a pre-application conference prior to submitting your application, or you must request a waiver.
- Neighborhood Association Contact. Neighborhood association contact, pursuant to SRC 300.310, is required prior to submitting this land use application. Prior to submitting a land use application requiring neighborhood association contact, the applicant shall contact the City-recognized neighborhood association(s) whose boundaries include, or are adjacent to, the subject property via e-mail or mailed letter. The e-mail or mailed letter shall be sent to the chair(s) and land use chair(s) of the applicable neighborhood association(s) prior to submitting the land use application and contain the following information:
- The name, telephone number, and e-mail address of the applicant;
- The address of the subject property;
- A summary of the proposal;
- A conceptual site plan, if applicable, that includes the proposed development; and
- The date on which the e-mail or letter is being sent.
- Application. You must submit all required items listed in the application checklist section below to the Permit Application Center Portal.
- Completeness review. Staff reviews your application for completeness. If the application is not complete, you will be notified as to what information is missing, and you will have 180 days to submit the additional information. You may track the status of your application online at the City of Salem permit tracking webpage.
- Hearing date and notice. Once a complete application is submitted, staff sets the date for a public hearing with the Planning Commission and sends notice of hearing to the applicant, property owner, neighborhood association, property owners within 250 ft., all addresses within 250 ft., all addresses on the subject property and any active and duly incorporated Homeowner's Association (HOA) involving the subject property.
- Posting signs. Staff prepares posting sign(s) and sends notice of posting requirements to the applicant. The applicant must post the sign(s) along street frontage(s) of property 10-14 days prior to hearing.
- Public hearing. The Planning Commission holds a public hearing. Staff presents a staff report, followed by testimony from applicant, neighborhood association representative, proponent(s), opponent(s), and rebuttal.
- Decision. The Planning Commission will make a decision based upon whether the proposal meets the applicable criteria for a Class 3 Design Review under SRC 225.005(e)(2).
- Notice of decision. Staff sends a copy of the decision (noting 15-day appeal period) to the applicant, property owner, neighborhood association, and anyone who submitted testimony for the record prior to the close of the public hearing. If no appeal is filed and the City Council does not initiate review of the application, the decision becomes effective.
Application Checklist
An application for a Class 2 Design Review must contain the following:
- Land use application form. The land use application form must be signed by the applicant(s), property owner(s), and/or duly authorized representative(s). If the applicant and/or property owner is a Limited Liability Company (LLC), please also provide a list of all members of the LLC with your land use application. The land use form will be generated for you when you submit through the Permit Application Center Portal.
- Land use application fee. You must pay the application fee when you file your application.
- Recorded deed. You must submit a copy of the recorded deed/land sales contract for the existing units of land.
- Homeowners Association Information. A statement indicating whether the subject property is subject to an active and duly incorporated Homeowner's Association (HOA) registered with the Oregon Secretary of State. If so, the applicant shall provide the HOA name, name of the registered agent and the mailing address for the registered agent.
- Pre-Application Written Summary. You must submit a copy of the written summary of the pre-application conference that the Planning Division sent to you after the conference, or a copy of the pre-application conference waiver, if granted.
- Site plan. The site plan must include the following information:
- Total site area, dimensions, and orientation relative to north
- The complete dimensions and setbacks of the lot, and all existing and proposed buildings and structures, including the location, size, height, proposed use, design, and gross floor area of each building
- Location of proposed primary and accessory structures and other improvements, including fences, walls, and driveways, indicating distance to such structures from property lines and adjacent on-site structures
- All existing and proposed walls and fences, including the location, height, type of design, and composition
- The location and design of the existing and proposed on-site pedestrian and vehicle circulation system
- Locations and dimensions of all existing and proposed outdoor storage areas including but not limited to trash collection and recycling areas
- Building Elevations. Architectural drawings, renderings, or sketches showing all elevations of proposed buildings as they will appear on completion.
- Landscape Plan. The landscape plan must show the location of natural features, trees, and plant materials proposed to be removed, retained, or planted; the amount, height, type, and location of landscaped areas, planting beds, and plant materials and provisions for irrigation
- Topographic Survey and Grading Plan. A topographic survey and grading plan showing two-foot contour intervals on hillside lots and five-foot contour intervals on all other lots
- Open Space Plan. An open space plan drawn to scale showing locations of common and private open space, including active and passive recreational areas. The open space plan must show the total area of individual classifications of proposed open space.
- Written Statement. A written statement shall be submitted describing the proposal and how it conforms to the following approval criteria for Class 3 Design Review (SRC 225.005(e)(2)):
- A Class 3 Design Review shall be approved if all of the applicable design review standards are met. (Note: In demonstrating conformance with this approval criterion, the written statement must identify how the proposed development conforms to each of the applicable design review standard)