The purpose of the Design Review Committee (DRC) is to review, consider approve or deny applications for approval of design of architectural, landscaping, aesthetics for public and private projects, applications for sign variances, and proposed design elements or components of specific plans, historic districts, or other special areas.
DRC is now a recommending body only, meaning they only provide comments and a recommendation to Planning Commission which is the final decision making body for larger projects requiring design review. DRC members do not need to agree on all recommendations, but they try to organize their comments and recommendations based on whether a majority of the board agrees. Ultimately, they pass motions which include comments and/or requests for revisions that are passed along to Planning Commission to deliberate and act on. Many minor projects are reviewed and receive design approval at the Director’s level.
They serve 4-year terms.
Committee Members
Albert Antelman, Chair
William Growdon, Vice Chair
Anthony Tomasello
Jack Kiesel, Member
Curtis Cormane, Member
William A. Growdon is a licensed architect with more than 30 years of experience in architecture, design, and building (with hands-on experience in every construction trade).
William has designed and directed hundreds of projects from conception to fruition — from new homes and remodels to mixed-use and commercial buildings (offices, retail shops, studios, and restaurants) to city planning and architectonic designs and fabrication.
Having served as a member of the local Planning Commission, William has an in-depth understanding of policies and processes and knows how to successfully navigate related challenges and create new opportunities. During his time serving with the City of San Buenaventura Planning Commission, William participated in creating and writing the City General Plan, the downtown-specific plan form-based code adopted by the city.
A California native, William was born in San Diego, raised in Manhattan Beach, and has spent most of his life in the beach towns along the Southern California coast. When he’s not working or traveling, William enjoys a simple beach town life with his family – surfing, camping, hiking and coaching his daughters’ soccer teams.
Anthony C. Tomasello received a Bachelors in Environmental science and economics from UC Santa Cruz, and a Masters in Urban Planning and Real Estate Development from USC. His professional background is in land development and entitlements, urban design, and construction management.
The New School of Architecture Bachelor of Architecture Degree (1989)
Registered California Architect
Member American Institute of Architects (AIA)
City of Ventura
Planning Commission (2003-2005)
Public Art Commission (2015-2020)
Albert Antelman, RA has spent 46 years as an architect, facility management researcher, business executive, government official and private consultant. Since 2010, he has been a Senior Fellow with the Institute of Responsible Infrastructure Stewardship, Fairfax Station, VA. The Institute is a not-for-profit “think tank” that conducts research and promotes responsible stewardship of existing infrastructure assets as a way to safeguard public safety and limit service impairment caused by failure of aging infrastructure.
Prior to retiring from the Naval Facilities Engineering Command in 2010, he was the principal investigator for facilities management and sustainment issues at the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, Port Hueneme, California. He is a Registered Architect in the State of California, and holds both a bachelor’s and master’s of science in architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.
Jack Kiesel is an award winning landscape architect who has over 25 years of experience in landscape architecture, native plant restoration & enhancement, urban renewal, art and planning. His project list is extensive and includes many successful collaborations involving master planning of parks and civic spaces, plazas, open space enhancement, campus master planning, resorts and residential design.
Jack Kiesel’s work has been featured in Dwell, Green Magazine, Apartment Therapy, Central Coast Magazine and other publications.
Curtis Cormane has a B Arch from the University of Notre Dame.
He has been an instructor of architecture at Ventura College since 1996.
