The Administrator has the authority to review and make, or recommend, decisions as follows:
A. Emergency Applications: Those applications for projects of an emergency nature, necessary to guard against imminent peril, regardless of zoning district, shall receive administrative review and approval, denial or conditional approval, subject to criteria set forth in subsection 17.06.060B of this chapter. The Administrator may, upon the request of the applicant or the direction of any City official, forward the application to the commission for review.
B. Exemptions: The Administrator, with concurrence from the Chair or the Chair's designee, has the authority to exempt certain projects from the design review requirements, upon finding the project is minor, will not conflict with the design review standards of this chapter and will not adversely impact any adjacent properties. Such exemptions shall be documented in writing on file with the Community Development Department prior to issuance of a building permit. Should the Administrator and Chair determine that the proposal does not meet all of the above evaluation criteria, the project shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter prior to issuance of a building permit. Exemptions shall be included in the Commissioners' packet at regular meetings for informational purposes.
C. Minor Modifications: The Administrator has the authority to approve minor modifications to projects that have received design review approval by the commission prior to, and for the duration of a valid building permit. The Administrator shall make the determination as to what constitutes minor modifications and may include, but are not limited to, changes to approved colors and/or siding materials, changes to site plans that do not significantly increase building footprints or significantly change driveway or road alignment, changes to landscape plans that do not decrease the amount of landscaping, changes to dumpster enclosures, changes to exterior lighting fixtures and location, or changes to windows that do not significantly affect project design, appearance or function. All approved modifications must be documented in a memo to the project file and on the approved set of plans on file with the City. For modifications to design review approval that are determined by the Administrator not to be minor, the Administrator has the authority to recommend approval or denial of such modifications, subject to final decision by the commission on its consent agenda. Such recommendation for approval or denial shall be drafted in the form of findings of fact and conclusions of law. (Ord. 1191, 2015)