A. Scope Of Regulations:
1. The town council and planning commission, which advises the town council on zoning matters, have determined that the various aspects of architectural design have a significant impact on the character and value of the town's rural agricultural neighborhoods and business districts, and that preserving and enhancing this character requires the existence of a certain harmony and compatibility in these aspects, from one building to the next and throughout the particular neighborhood or district. They have also determined that preserving and enhancing the visual character of certain entryways to the town, and areas of unique historical and/or architectural significance, furthers the economic and cultural well being of the community.
2. These minimum design standards address valuable design relationships and site planning principles. They are standards that could apply to any area of the town. However, the requirements of this section shall only apply to areas of the town for which the design review process has been designated by the planning commission and town council. How they apply in any given district or zone will depend on the characteristics of that particular area. To that end, the town council and planning commission will adopt, from time to time, district guidelines based on existing design characteristics and needs commonly observed in those districts and/or zones. Those specific guidelines shall be referenced in the particular zone for which the design review process has been designated.
3. The intent of these standards is to identify a range of design options which will encourage development compatible with the existing character of a district and which will discourage introduction of incompatible features. If the planning commission wishes, they may recommend to the town council that a design review committee be formed to assist the planning commission in the administering of this section.
B. Design Review Committee:
1. In accordance with the duties and powers of the planning commission outlined in chapter 4 of this title, the planning commission may recommend persons to serve on a design review committee when one is needed to help implement this section. Those recommended shall be representative of the following groups: the planning commission, the staff, design professionals, development community, and property owners from the affected district. Members of the committee shall be appointed by the mayor, with the advice and consent of the town council. The design review committee shall organize bylaws or administrative procedures and operate under the authority of this section. The committee may adopt design standards as appropriate that meet those guidelines or enhance upon those listed below. The committee shall meet at such times and places and as often as they or the planning commission shall deem necessary to review the applications.
2. The administrative procedures adopted shall apply to all requests for a certificate of appropriateness. For purposes of these procedures, the design review committee shall be considered staff to the planning commission. Unless the planning commission shall otherwise direct, an applicant for a certificate of appropriateness may in writing consent to the committee's recommendation and waive further design action by the planning commission. If the applicant waives further action by the planning commission, the committee recommendation shall be considered approved by the planning commission and the certificate of appropriateness may be issued. Any appeal from the committee's decision shall be reviewed by the full planning commission. If necessary, the decision of the commission may then be appealed to the board of adjustment, and ultimately to the courts.
C. Types Of Certificates Of Appropriateness: The planning commission and its design review committee will be reviewing five (5) different kinds of "construction" activity that need certificates of appropriateness, and each kind will need a slightly different application of the guidelines below and additional standards as may be adopted:
1. For the construction of new buildings and parts of buildings, the focus of the guidelines is on the compatibility of new construction with the existing character of the district without dictating style or taste.
2. For reconstruction, remodeling and repair of existing structures, the guidelines seek to guide and encourage rehabilitation in line with the original character of the structure.
3. For relocation of buildings to sites within the district, the guidelines seek to ensure that buildings moved to sites within the district are compatible with the surrounding buildings and are suitably situated on the lot.
4. For the demolition or removal of all or parts of existing buildings, the focus of the guidelines is to find feasible alternatives to the demolition, or at least compatible replacement.
5. For sign permits, the guidelines seek to ensure that the sign is designed as an integral architectural element of the building and site to which it relates and is compatible with the overall character of the district.
D. Harmony Of Design Guidelines:
1. To preserve the design character of the existing development, to protect the rural, countryside visual pattern of the community, and to promote harmony in the visual relationships and transitions between new and older buildings, new buildings should be made sympathetic to scale, form and proportion of existing development. This can be done by repeating building lines and surface treatment and by requiring some uniformity of detail, scale, proportion, textures, materials, color and building form.
2. The use of unusual shapes, color and other characteristics that cause new buildings to call excessive attention to themselves and create a jarring disharmony shall be avoided, or reserved for structures of broad public significance.
3. The height and bulk of new buildings shall be related to the prevailing scale of development to avoid overwhelming or dominating existing development.
4. Building additions should be designed to reflect existing buildings in scale, materials and color. Facade renovations should include as few different materials as possible.
5. The architectural style of new or redeveloped structures shall be compatible with the predominant architectural themes of the district. Contemporary design for new buildings in old neighborhoods and additions to existing buildings or landscaping should be discouraged if such design is not compatible with the size, scale, color, material and character of the neighborhood, building or its environment. Rural, agricultural or mountain type living designs should be implemented whenever possible.
6. Adjacent buildings of different architectural styles shall be made compatible by such means as materials, rhythm, color, repetition of certain plant varieties, screens, sight breaks, etc.
7. The construction of additions to existing buildings should be generally discouraged in yards adjoining public streets and should instead be confined to side and rear yards which are generally out of public view.
8. To preserve the continuity prevailing along each block face, the orientation of the building's principal facade shall complement that of the majority of buildings in the same block face (either parallel or perpendicular to the street).
9. The open expanse of front lawns or meadows/open spaces and the quantities of planting within them of new or redeveloped structures shall be comparable to that of existing structures.
E. Building Details:
1. Rehabilitation work should not destroy the distinguishing qualities or character of the property and its environment. The removal or alteration of architectural features should be held to the minimum, consistent with the proposed use.
2. Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterize older structures and often predate the mass production of building materials, should be treated and/or preserved with sensitivity.
3. Wherever possible, new additions or alterations to buildings should be done in such a manner that if they were to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the original building would be unimpaired.
F. Signs: Signs should complement the architectural style and scale of the building and should be designed as an integral architectural element of the building and site to which it principally relates. As an architectural element, the sign should reflect the period of architecture and be in harmony with building character and use. It must not interfere with architectural lines and details. Each sign shall be compatible with signs on adjoining premises and shall not compete for attention. The number of graphic elements on a sign shall be held to the minimum needed to convey the sign's major message and shall be in proportion to the area of the sign face.
G. Demolition: Except for building condemnation proceedings for health and safety reasons, no demolition permit will be issued until plans have been submitted, reviewed and approved for a replacement structure or appropriate landscaping. This is to assure that vacant lots are not created in the district, and to make sure the new structure is compatible with its surroundings. (Ord., 1-18-2005)