(A) The downtown design standards shall be applied as an overlay zoning district to a subdistrict of the downtown plan study area. Existing nonconforming uses and structures within the Design Overlay District may be maintained and continued in the state which exists at the time this subchapter is adopted. Conversion of the structures to a conforming business-related use shall require downtown design standards review, as provided for in division (B). A project which complies with an objective will likely be viewed more favorably than one which does not. However, adherence to the overall character is the bottom line. Projects which achieve the character goals may be able to overcome modifications to individual objective statements. Any project subject to these standards will be required to conform to the standards only to the extent that the project involves design features addressed by the standards. Depending on the scope of the project, the following review processes may apply.
(A) Administrative review. Projects that require administrative review only include those which involve minor exterior alterations to existing buildings, but which do not require separate zoning permits. Maintenance of existing buildings requiring a building permit and replacement of materials consistent with the downtown design standards will require only administrative review.
(B) Planning Commission and City Council review. Projects of greater scope, or those which already require more extensive city zoning review, will need to be reviewed by the Planning Commission and then approved by the City Council. These projects include:
(1) Those buildings that are completely new;
(2) Those which alter the building design or materials more than 50% of any single exterior building wall or roof surface;
(3) Those which require variances, subdivision approval, conditional use permits or other zoning or permit amendment;
(4) Those which alter the height of an existing building by more than two feet;
(5) Those which alter the lot coverage of an existing building by more than 10%; and
(6) Those accessory buildings within areas subject to this chapter.
(Prior Code, § 11-76-2) (Ord. 258, passed 5-4-2006)