(a) Approval shall be obtained from the Board of Zoning and Planning prior to any new construction, exterior remodeling, reconstruction or other change which comes within the scope of this chapter.
(b) No building, structure or space shall be constructed, reconstructed, altered, moved, extended, razed, enlarged or changed in external appearance unless and until the plans and specifications for such building or structure and the landscaping plan for the premises on which it is or will be located have been approved by the Board, except when a certificate of appropriateness or demolition permit has been granted by the Architectural Review Board or its delegate. The Board, in reviewing such plans and specifications, shall examine the arrangement of buildings and structures on the premises, the use of signage, the means of integrating parking, the use of landscape materials and the impact of the proposed project on the surrounding properties to determine the effect the project will have upon the appearance and environment of the City. The Board shall endeavor to assure that the exterior appearance and site design of such buildings, structures and spaces will enhance the attractiveness and desirability of the applicable zoning district, and encourage orderly and harmonious development in keeping with the character of the zoning district.
(c) Except in the Main Street District, the Board, in the performance of its duties, shall not attempt to prescribe the style of architecture so long as the architectural style and design under consideration meet the standards set forth above and may be based upon a recommendation of the Architectural Review Board as requested by the Board of Zoning and Planning. Within the Main Street District, the Board shall base its approval on review of the MS District standards and the main Street Design Guidelines.
(d) For applications within the Main Street District, the Mixed Use Commercial District, and the Commercial Service District that impact the streetscape and street trees within the public right-of-way, the Bexley Tree and Public Gardens Commission (TPGC) shall review such plans and make a recommendation to the Board. For those parts of an application involving landscape features on the subject property but outside the public right-of-way, the Board may elect to have such plans reviewed by the TPGC for their recommendation.
(e) BZAP shall consider and weigh the recommendations of the Architectural Review Board in making its determination.
(f) The responsibility of review and approval, approval with modifications and/or conditions or denial of the application filed under this chapter shall rest with the Board of Zoning and Planning. All applications requiring review by the BZAP, rather than the staff, shall be filed with the BZAP or its designee at least four (4) weeks before a regularly scheduled BZAP meeting; provided, however, that the BZAP may, for good cause, waive the 4 week advanced filing requirement, provided that public notice is in accordance with the adopted BZAP Rules and Regulations, and provided that the Building Department, in its sole discretion, has adequate time to review and process the application. The Board's decision to hear an application that has been submitted after the 4 week deadline shall constitute a waiver of the filing deadline.
(g) The Board shall review and approve, approve with modifications or conditions or disapprove each such application. The Board shall issue a written record of action on each application which shall be provided to the applicant. An application may be tabled at the request of the applicant or the BZAP. The City shall maintain, as an official record, the Board's written record of action of the decision on an application and the minutes of the meeting at which the application was considered.
(Ord. 29-16. Passed 11-15-16; Ord. 08-20. Passed 7-14-20.)