Discussions on updating the Downtown Historic Conservation Plan guidelines are moving along, Principal Planner Suzanne Thorsen wrote in a staff report, and a presentation will be provided to the Historic Preservation Review Commission (HPRC) on Thursday for feedback.

The DHCP’s design guidelines were adopted in 1990. However, city staff, the HPRC and community members have suggested the guidelines need to be improved and updated. Through a grant from the state Office of Historic Preservation, this will be possible.

“The updated design guidelines will ensure consistency in the design review process, reinforce the character of the historic district, and provide the basis for clear and fair decision-making in the district,” Thorsen wrote.

According to Thorsen, the goal of the updates is to provide design guidelines for historic properties, alterations to non-historic buildings and new infill structures with information relayed in a manner that is more user-friendly.

Thorsen also wrote that the project is on schedule. The first round of workshops was conducted in January, and staff received feedback from a variety of community members. A public review draft is slated to be released in April with a community open house scheduled for April 25. Additionally, the Ad Hoc Advisory Group met on Friday to provide initial feedback about the design review procedures based on the DHCP’s current framework. Staff will provide a verbal summary of the discussion at Thursday’s HPRC meeting. The project is expected to be completed by September.

In other business, the HPRC will hold a study session discussion to review proposed amendments to the Benicia Municipal Code’s regulation on Accessory Dwelling Units. Staff will also be hosting a presentation on the city’s new Priority-Based Budgeting system to gauge what aspects of the city residents and employees would like to see prioritized in the budget.

The HPRC will meet at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 22 in City Hall’s Commission Room, located at 250 East L St.

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