City struggles to define itself

Norco wants 'Western' buildings, but leaders disagree on specifics

How Western is Western? That's the question Norco has been asking lately.

Planning officials are a little torn about whether proposed new businesses, such as Bob's Big Boy, meet the city's Western design guidelines.

Those guidelines are in the form of a checklist the Planning Commission uses when reviewing architectural plans. The issue, despite the guidelines, is just exactly "Western" means.

"Everyone has a different idea of what they personally see as Western," said Mayor Frank Hall.

"There is not one uniform look. We want architects to use the Western motif as a guideline."

At the Dec. 19 council meeting, Hall asked that the City Council hold a joint meeting with the Planning Commission to "see if we can get on the same track."

As a commissioner, Pat Hedges said she uses the checklist as a guide to make sure buildings are up to the standards.

In the last year and a half she has been on the commission, Hedges said the council has supported the board's decisions.

Traditionally, Sixth Street has had the more Old Western feel, Hall said. He believes because Hamner has much more room for development, it should be left open for a more modern theme.

"Basically, there (is) a strong consensus that (on) Sixth Street we want a Western theme, but it's loosely defined. Even the checklist is subjective," said commissioner Mike Harris.

Hall said the city needs to be able to be lenient on the design guidelines to be able to attract a diversity of retailers.

"Our base is retail sales. We rely on that for the economy of the city," Hall said.

Harris understands the need for the design guidelines to be looser on Hamner especially when they are competing with Eastvale and Corona for economic development.

"The expenses (of buildings) go up, and the attractiveness goes down," Harris said.

Harris said one solution would be to put together a specific plan for Hamner.

Harris also said he thinks the Planning Commission comes in too late in the review process.

"Instead of working with the applicant, we're almost in the position of critiquing or judging," he said.

Harris believes the city should consider establishing an architectural review board, which would consist of a planning commissioner, city staff, as well as an architect who would meet to review early plans.

It would streamline the whole Western design issue, he said, because the architectural review board would determine if a project met guidelines early on.

Harris said he drew inspiration for the review board from cities such as Temecula and Brea that have similar systems in place.

The council will meet in late January for strategic planning and is expected to set a meeting with the Planning Commission.