Architect to Review 5 Building Projects

The architect commissioned to put together a design-guideline manual for the city has been asked to review five construction projects awaiting approval.

Marc Brodeur, of Orange County-based Urban Design Studio, will review a proposed Rite-Aid at Tapo Canyon and Adam roads, a truck storage facility on East Los Angeles Avenue and auto repair shop on Donville Avenue off Los Angeles Avenue.

Brodeur said he would finish his review in time for the next Planning Commission meeting Jan. 6.

But he said his findings will neither affect the approval nor delay construction of the buildings. The review is designed to see how closely plans correspond with those of the new guidelines being put together with the public’s help.

“This is more of a test of the guidelines, not the plan[s],” said David Petrovich, a senior planner with Simi Valley.

The new design guidelines, which the city hopes will be completed by spring, are based largely on resident response to an Oct. 28 visual survey of different architectural styles and landscape designs. Different images, whether liked or disliked, will be included in the manual to provide developers an idea of what residents prefer in new construction and renovations.

“You want to leave staff and developers with a clear image of what the city wants,” Brodeur said.

The survey’s results showed that residents dislike architecture typically associated with national franchise retailers and restaurants. The poll also found that residents want trees and dislike plain, box-like buildings.