(a) Powers and duties. The Asheville Design Review Committee shall be a joint committee of the Asheville Downtown Commission and the Asheville-Buncombe Riverfront Commission and have the following powers and duties, to be carried out in accordance with the terms of this chapter:
(1) Review and make comment on major works projects within designated design review areas in accordance with the respective design guidelines adopted for each area;
(2) Adopt and amend guidelines for alterations, demolitions, and new construction within designated design review areas;
(3) To perform studies and/or prepare plans for desirable standards and goals for the aesthetic enhancement of the city. These plans may include the entire city or any part thereof, and may include private as well as public property; and
(4) Such additional powers and duties as may be set forth for the Asheville Design Review Committee elsewhere in this chapter and in other laws and regulations.
(b) Membership; terms; vacancies.
(1) The Asheville Design Review Committee shall consist of nine members, the majority of which shall have demonstrated special interest, experience or education in architecture, historic preservation, landscape architecture, urban planning or related fields. All members shall have equal rights, privileges, and duties.
(2) All members shall serve three-year terms. All members shall serve a maximum of two terms.
(3) The Asheville City Council shall appoint nine members to the Asheville Design Review Committee with three members selected from the Downtown Commission, three members selected from the Asheville-Buncombe Riverfront Commission, and three members selected at large, in accordance with the council's rules of procedure. In the event that there is insufficient interest from either of the respective commissions to fill the assigned committee seats, and after exhausting efforts to ensure equal representation by soliciting applications from the commissions to fill these seats, the City Council may appoint individuals at large. Vacancies shall be filled as they occur by the Asheville City Council.
(4) Preference will be given to applicants who represent at least one of the Asheville Design Review Committee's interest areas in addition to the seat requirements:
· Persons with disabilities
· Transit users
· Seniors
(c) Meetings. The Asheville Design Review Committee shall hold regular monthly meetings in accordance with the published schedule for the committee.
(d) Rules and records. The Asheville Design Review Committee shall follow the rules of procedure for the respective commissions. The Asheville Design Review Committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings.
(Ord. No. 4855, § 1(f), 2-23-21; Ord. No. 4926, § 1(c), 1-25-22; Ord. No. 5041, § 1, 10-10-23)