No.	Issues & Concerns	Responses
1	What's this all about?	Where applicable, the idea is to ask the City of Fullerton to approve a zone change for the residential properties from R-1, R-2 and R-3 to R-1P, R-2P and R-3P respectively.  The "P" designates that the property is part of a Residential Preservation Zone in which new construction, proposed improvements to the exterior of properties and existing "architectural elements" would follow a set of Design Guidelines.  The purpose of this is to preserve the architectural charm & character of the neighborhood.
2	Will I be prohibited from installing modern appliances such as a dishwasher, microwave or trash compactor?	No.  The Design Guidelines do not restrict the adition of modern appliances.
3	Will this prohibit me from replacing my interior lath & plaster walls with drywall?	No.  Since this does not involve the exterior and drywall is not considered an "architectural element", in can be replaced, if desired.
4	My friend who lives in Orange told me I should be opposed to this because the National Historic Landmark requirements are very restrictive.	Be careful not to confuse preservation Design Guidelines with Historic Guidelines.  The homes in the landmark district of Orange that have been placed on the National Register are required to follow the federal Historic Guidelines which are very restrictive.  The proposal does not include or require following the more restrictive federal Historic Guidelines.
5	Why should I be in favor of this?	By adopting the Design Guidelines, everyone can benefit from having a neighborhood that maintains the architectural charm and character that is missing from many newer areas.  And it's no secret that nicer areas also tend to be safer and more desirable.
6	Isn't this just a way for our city to get some federal money or more control over us?	No.  The city will not get any money from the state or federal government from this proposal.  And the Fullerton City Council has already stated that it will consider the rezoning only if there is support for it from the community.
7	What's wrong with applying stucco over my wood siding?	Not only can stucco seal in moisture causing the wood to rot inside, but it detracts from the architectural appearance and value of the house and the neighboring properties.
8	Currently, I don't need a permit to paint my house or to plant some flowers.  Will this change?	No.  This is not an attempt by the city to general more revenue by requiring you to get additional permits.
9	In order to have the zone changed, won't each property owner get hit with a big fee?	Not if it's a city initiated zoning change.  And this is precisely why we have asked that it be done as a city initiated zoning change.
10	Why should property owners be willing to give up the right to do whatever they want to their house even if everyone else thinks it's in bad taste or not consistent with the architectural look of these old houses?	When houses are placed so close together, it's nearly impossible for the actions of one person, whether it be positive or negative, not to impact their neighbors.  Since most homeowners probably follow some guidelines anyway, adopting them in full would not be such a big sacrifice, especially when compared to the overall benefit that could be gained by everyone and the neighborhood as a whole.
11	Who's to say that my creative talents are in poor taste?	This is not about restricting peoples creative or personal taste.  The Design Guidelines simply attempt to preserve a common theme within the neighborhood.  There is plenty of room for exercising a person's creative talents no matter how much someone else may or may not like what you do.  And it's certainly not going to make the neighborhood look like some of the areas of Irvine or Mission Viejo.
12	How will this affect my property values?	The value of homes in areas that have already adopted the Design Guidelines have not been adversely affected.  In fact, some buyers desire housing in older neighborhoods that is protected by established guidelines.  This means that the Design Guidelines could have a positive affect on your property value.
13	What if I don't want to spend the extra money to replace my old wood framed windows with new wood framed windows instead of just putting in cheaper aluminum sliders?	You don't.  In fact the Design Guidelines encourages you to repair the old wood framed windows (if possible) instead of taking them out and throwing them away.  This can be far less expensive than replacing them and think of the added value if you should decide to market the property in the future.
14	Currently, for those projects requiring a permit, if I don't agree with the city's staff member(s) who have to approve my plans, I have the right to appeal to the city's Planning Commission.  Will this change?	No.  Adopting the design Guidelines will not cause you to loose this right.
15	Will I have to spend even $1 if I don't want to spend any?	No.  If you have no intention of making any changes to your property,  this proposal will not require you to do so.  However, if and when you decide to make changes, they will need to be consistent with the Design Guidelines.
16	Will I have to redo changes that may have been done in the past that are not consistent with the guidelines?	No.  You are not required to redo changes that may have been performed in the past.  Only additions or improvements performed in the future will need to be consisted with the Design Guidelines.
17	Will the preservation zone cause my taxes to go up?	No.
18	What if someone needs financial assistance in order to maintain their property?	The Design Guidelines do not require property owners to make any additions, changes or repairs.  However, the City of Fullerton already has a program in place that offers low interest loans, or grants for repairs, to homeowners who qualify.
19	What happens if some of the homes in a preservation zone are damaged  by a natural disaster such as a flood, earthquake or fire?	Preservation zone or no preservation zone, rebuilding could be expensive.  Each homeowner should weigh out the costs and benefits of carrying insurance coverage for such a disaster.
20	Will I have to get prior approval to choose the colors I want to paint my house or will I have to pick from a per-established color chart with only a few choices?	No.  The Design Guidelines simply state that the exterior colors should be compatible with, and complementary to, the color scheme of neighboring properties ant fluorescent and metallic colors should not be used on the exterior of any structure.
21	Can I replace my old wood framed windows with new windows that look the same, but include materials such as double pane glass and polyvinyl sliders?	Original architectural elements should be retained, repaired or restored rather than replaced.  If such elements cannot be repaired or recreated, the replacement should be made with original materials when possible, but when necessary, substitutions maybe made with materials that match in design, texture and color.  Original materials shall be proven to be deteriorated beyond reasonable repair before substitute materials can be considered.
22	For new construction do I have to use the same materials as when the original structure was built or can I substitute more modern materials that look the same?	Alternate materials such as hardboard siding, hard board garage doors, high-density polymer (foam) architectural elements can be used where such elements and materials convey the visual appearance of the original feature.
23	Will I be prohibited from adding extra rooms on the ground level or a second story?	No.  However, any new construction, or changes to existing structure, will need to be consistent with the Design Guidelines.
24	I'm tired of this old house and want to make my house look more up-to-date and modern on the outside.  Will this restrict what I can do?	Yes.  The whole idea is to get each property owner to follow a common set of guidelines in order to retain the traditional architectural elements of their property and the neighborhood as a whole.
25	Will I be forced to join a homeowners association with monthly fees?	No.  It's just a grassroots effort by the neighborhood to try to preserve the picturesque quality of the area along with the architectural charm & character of these old houses.
26	Can any area of the city become a preservation zone?	No.  Only those areas with architectural or historical significance.
27	Can this really make a difference on how our neighborhood looks and feels.	Just look at how much time and expense companies spend when they are trying to create a special setting or common theme in a movie or a place like Main Street in Disneyland.  All we have to do is preserve what we already have and we can enjoy it everyday without the cost of an admission fee.  The designation of a preservation zone tends to create pride in the neighborhood which acts as an incentive for improvements by the property owners.
28	Won't this make all the houses look the same?	No.  It will help to preserve the individual charm and character of each regardless of the architectural style.
29	I've been waiting to make some improvements to my house but it's difficult to find the time to research what's consistent with my architectural style.	The Design Guidelines will save property owners a lot of time by sharing the information and knowledge already accumulated by others.
30	Sometimes I'm not sure how to go about tackling some of the projects I would like to do?	Just talking to each other about establishing a preservation zone has already resulted in a lot of sharing of information and tips between neighbors.  This avoids each of us having to reinvent the wheel.
31	I have wanted to make some improvements to my property, but I'm not able to do the work myself.  How can I find someone capable of doing the work for me?	Just like finding a good doctor or tax preparer, the best way is to get a referral.  Some contractors and skilled workers specialize in repairing older homes.  Establishing a preservation zone is a good way to network together for sharing of information.
32	Are there any other residential areas in Fullerton that have already been established as a preservation zone?	Yes.  There currently are (six) areas.  They are zoned either R-1P, R-2P (1-2 units allowed) or R-3P (1,2,3 or more units allowed).
33	Will this increase the number of units allowed per property?	No.  This proposal will not increase, or decrease, the number of units allowed per property (density).
34	What if I have something in need of repair that is currently not consistent with the proposed guidelines?	No problem.  Assuming the guidelines are adopted, you could simply make repairs to the work previously done or change it back to be consistent with the Design Guidelines, if you so choose.
35	Will everyone needing a permit have to go before a committee to get their plans approved?	No.  Minor construction or improvements that comply with the Design Guidelines may be approved by staff from the Development Services Dept. right at the counter.  Only major additions or new residential dwellings would likely be subject to a more formal review for approval by the Design Review Committee.
36	Why do we need this?  Most of the houses look pretty good.	If we wait until the area looses most of its' architectural charm and character, it will be too late.  At that point, adopting the Design Guidelines would be useless in terms of trying to put back what will have already been lost.

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