Survey to Focus on Community Design

If you’re sick of obtrusive business signs, bored by box-like buildings or appalled by aging architecture, city officials want to hear about it.

The public is invited to participate in the “Community Design Survey” at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Simi Valley City Hall. All residents over age 18 are invited.

“We want as many people to take part as possible,” said Councilwoman Barbra Williamson, who has led city efforts to beautify Simi Valley.

The survey will include a slide presentation of more than 100 images, including photographs of office and industrial buildings and landscapes. Participants will be asked to give their opinion of each image through anonymous questionnaires.

The survey was put together by the City-wide Design Guidelines Ad Hoc Committee with the help of architect Marc Brodeur.

His firm, Urban Design Studio of Orange County, has worked on similar surveys for other communities.

The committee will use survey results to put together a citywide design manual detailing how new construction should look, said David Petrovich, a senior planner with the city’s Department of Environmental Services. Designs that receive positive reactions will be encouraged.

The council’s approval could come by the spring, Petrovich added.

Williamson said she envisions the manual as a document that developers can look at and immediately understand what the city wants from new construction.