El Monte

The El Monte Planning Commission soon will have authority to review the design of new commercial and industrial buildings throughout the city. The City Council this week amended the development standards code to expand the Planning Commission’s authority beyond the specially designated areas over which it now has design review jurisdiction.

Planning Director Harold Johanson said the change is intended to give the commission more control over the appearance of new buildings citywide than it has through the current building and use permit process. No fee will be charged for the design review, he said.