WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS
READ INTO THE RECORD
To: Beverly Hills City Council
From: Myra Demeter, Ph.D.
Date: July 18, 2023
Re: Commission consolidation - Architectural and Design Review _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my opinion on the possible consolidation of the Architectural Commission and the Design Review Commission. I feel strongly that each of these commissions serves an essential and important part of the review process and they should operate as separate entities.
The review process has several layers and the differentiation of responsibilities is critical to maintaining the integrity of projects. The design review commission focuses on landscape, architecture, location on the lot, materials and relationships to neighbors. The architectural commission is less concerned with neighbors and is more of a stand alone application. Signage, size, type of illumination, content and repair of surfaces are important aspects of the Architectural Commission’s review. Renovations and new builds are also important - colors, materials, attachments, view overall, windows and framing, scale, doorways, ADA issues and parking signage.
Please consider the different and important responsibilities of each commission and I urge you NOT to consolidate them. We need each one to participate in the process.
Sincerely,
Myra Demeter, Ph.D.
BH Planning Commissioner
From: Tim Devlin
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Written Comment - Design Review Commission Duties and Workload - 7/18 Council Study Session Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:04:11 AM
Good Afternoon Mayor, City Council, City Staff, Commissioners, and Citizens, I cannot attend in person today but wanted to provide comments regarding the Design Review Commission Duties and Workload. As the Architectural Commission Chair, the duties of the Design Review Commission and the Architectural Commission are distinctly different and should not be merged.
The nuanced details of single-family architecture in the City deserve time and attention to carefully review and preserve the character that makes Beverly Hills what it is today. Without a careful review, we will start to see out-of-character construction in residential neighborhoods, which will undo the commission's work thus far.
The work of the Architectural Commission is of a different scale as we review commercial and multifamily residential projects. We consider commercial signage, façade treatments, material durability, lighting, landscape and hardscape materials, among many more. The scale of these projects is very different from single-family residential. If the Commissions were to merge, the number of projects requiring review would significantly increase, jeopardizing the time and attention each project deserves.
The Commissioners strive to provide a high level of attention, review, and time with each applicant to do their best to shape a project to enhance and preserve the character of Beverly Hills. The types of projects reviewed by the Commissions are inherently different. Keeping the Commissions separate will set the City up for success resulting in new projects in residential and commercial areas the City embraces and is proud of. Beverly Hills is a City unlike any other, and the work of the Commissions plays a leading role in this.
Thank you for your time,
Tim Devlin
Architectural Commission Chair
From: James Matson
To: City Clerk
Subject: Combining Two Commissions
Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 2:05:00 PM
City Council Members
I am writing in opposition of the proposal to combine the Architectural Commission with the Design Review Commission. The two commissions review very different types of projects that require very different review criteria. Single family residential is a different genre than multi-family or commercial projects. Retaining the two separate commissions allows the commissioners to concentrate on their area of expertise and the criteria for each that make for successful projects in the city of Beverly Hills.
As a member of the Architectural Commission, which already has a full schedule of projects for most months, I would be opposed to the longer agenda by combining the commissions. It is a volunteer position and I am opposed to longer meetings that could last thru the evenings.
Therefore, I strongly recommend maintaining the two separate commissions. Thank you very much for consideration of these comments.
James Matson, AIA
Architectural Commission
From: Steve Mayer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Study Session Agenda Item 3: Public Comment (Ad Hoc Committee) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:29:32 AM
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To be read at the meeting:
Honorable Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Councilmembers:
What the Agenda Report does not reflect regarding the Design Review merger was an excellent suggestion from Councilmember Nazarian.
Councilmember Naszarian suggested having a special meeting periodically for the Design Review projects.
A former Design Review Commission member, in turn, observed that the mandate of the Design Review Commission (and its process) was different than that of the Architectural Commission.
Incorporating that observation, perhaps there could be a standing Architectural Commission committee similar to Restaurant Design, to facilitate the same exact standard as today… providing there was the same noticing as currently exists.
But I question the real reason behind the merger proposal. The last Design Review meeting had a full agenda.
As to the desire for background checks for potential commissioners, there are two elements.
First, when my consulting duties involved executive recruiting, for high profile executive positions, we would also background check the family and others. The purpose was not to disqualify, but to inform the Board of Directors of future potential bumps in the road from errant family members.
In addition, the background checks needed to be done every year, again, to help define the landscape for the Board.
But there are severe limitations on background checks.
For example, several years ago, one of Dr. Gold’s anestheologists knocked out a tooth.
When that doctor failed to respond, I asked my physician, Dr. Fuchs, to mention the situation to Dr. Gold.
If Dr. Fuchs did, and Dr. Gold failed to disclose the situation in closed sessions regarding a CEQA action in which I was involved (to protect wildlife), that would be a serious breach. But an annual background check would never have revealed such a situation.
That is in keeping with a recent a front-page article about the former Athletic Director at USC, where an extensive background checks completed failed.
Commissioners are volunteers. They’re leaders in the City. The likelihood that they would fail a background check is slim.
But the intrusive nature of even being asked is insulting, just as having potential Sunshine Task Force members file Form 700s is offensive, when the Small Business Task Force members are not similarly required.
Thank you for allowing me to make this public comment.
Steve Mayer
From: Sandy Pressman
To: City Clerk
Subject: City Council Study Session Discussion-Possible Merging of DRC and AC Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 7:15:42 PM
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To All Concerned:
I have sat on the DRC for 6 plus years and feel committed to its remaining a free standing commission in the future.The DRC is made up of 5 members, 4 being of the Beverly Hills Community and 1 being a professional architect of high standing. The work of the commission is dedicated to maintaining a high standard of architecture, landscape and privacy in the designated residential areas of Beverly Hills.
Please consider maintaining the independent DRC so that existing residents know that their interests are being considered as new projects are presented.
Thank you
Sandy Pressman