Abstract
This paper examines the design review (DR) system of City of San Jose focusing on single-family houses. The results were as follows: 1) The DR system is included in the process of issuing the Land Use and Development Permit. Single-Family Houses Permits only undergo DR when there is a large impact on surrounding areas. 2) Below 1.2% of all building permits for single-family houses undergo DR. 3) Two sets of guidelines exist for DR in Residential Design Guideline and Single-Family Design Guideline. 4) Public hearings appear to bring confirmation and publicity. 5) The system of Preliminary Review and public participation appears to be effective for legitimating DR.
