But Skeleton:
1. Some communities WANT degree of conformity-what you call "boredom" and "monotony."
2. Given the horros inflicted on the world by the various "MODERN-LOOK AT ME BLOBBY WALLS AND CRUMBLING STEEL BEAMS" school of architecture, some communities want to restrain the creative geniuses bubbling out of the architectural schools. This may be horrifying, but not all communities are very tolerant of the new. And, of course, this case is a very, very small minority of communities.
3. The biggest reason for design controls is they can require a minimum level of civillity. In a world of "Towns next door" with concrete block boxes, signs on wheels, cloned corporate burger shacks, et al, design standards can impose, artificially admittedly, a little higher community standard for design. Will it be great architecture? Probably not.
As for the question at hand, one suggestion I would have is that focus areas require Third Party architectural review. Architects on retainer independent of staff AND the applicants can provide a needed perspective. Fairfield uses this process and a fairly stringent design guidebook for one of its outlying districts, and one could argue that it has helped encourage higher quality design (the fact that its all newer and a little more affluent has helped, too, but. . .) Our guidelines don't dictate a particular style. They address issues like quality of materials, (preference for "natural" materials) arcticulation of facades, landscaping, etc. I can think of at least one fast food shack that looks a lot better than it would of without the design guidelines and third party review. Whether the community should be imposing this level of design is a political decision. IMO, the lack of a Jack in the Box at that particular off ramp would not have been a tragedy of vast proportions, but at least we got a better design. Darn, I;m babbling.