1138.05 DOWNTOWN DESIGN REVIEW BOARD; POWERS AND DUTIES.
(a) Powers. The Board shall have the authority to review any proposed alterations within the boundaries or the Downtown Design Review District. Except as provided in Section 1138.05(g), the Administrators or the Board's approval of any alteration, respectively, shall be secured before any work may commerce. The Board's regulatory authority is limited to external alternations. The Board shall have no regulatory authority regarding any interior features or systems within a building. The Board shall also have the power to enforce a minimum set of aesthetic maintenance standards as outlined in Section 1138.07.
(b) Applicable Properties. This Chapter applies only to the following property types:
(1) Non-residential properties, mixed-use properties, and residential properties with four (4) or more units.
(2) New structures regardless of use.
(c) Downtown Review District Guidelines. Council will enact, and the Board will maintain, Downtown Review District Guidelines ("Guidelines") that will assist in evaluating proposed Alterations. These guidelines will act as a resource to help developers and property owners make alterations that fit into the aesthetic character of the Downtown Design Review District. The Board will review the guidelines annually or on an as needed basis. Any amendments to the Guidelines shall be adopted by City Council and any subsequence Changes shall be approved by Council.
In reviewing proposed alterations, the Administration and the Board shall use the following
general criteria as part of their evaluation. These criteria are covered in greater detail in the Downtown District Review Guidelines:
(1) Site Design.
A. Relationship of Building Masses and Spaces - The relationship of a structure within the district to the open space between it and adjoining structures should be compatible.
B. Height - the height of any proposed alteration should be compatible with the style and character of surrounding structures in the Downtown Design Review District;
C. Scale - The scale of the structure after iteration, should be compatible with its architectural style and character with surrounding structures;
D. Landscaping - Landscaping should be compatible with the architectural character and appearance of the Downtown Design Review District.
(2) Building Design.
A. Proportions of windows and doors - The proportions and relationships between doors and windows should be compatible with the architectural style and character of the district;
B. Materials - Building materials shall be complementary to the character of the Downtown Design Review District.
C. Roof Shape - The design of the roof, and cornice should be compatible with the architectural style and character of the Downtown Design Review District;
D. New Structures - New structures shall be compatible with the character of the Downtown Design Review District.
E. Color -Shall be compatible with the character of the Downtown Design Review District.
(d) Meeting Schedule.
(1) The Board shall meet a minimum six (6) times per year, i.e. every other month, or as needed. Meetings shall be scheduled in the same week as City Planning Commission to expedite review. The deadline to submit an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness is seven days prior to the meeting. The administrator will have the discretion to accept plans after the deadline.
(2) Special meetings may be called by the Board to review projects. The purpose of these special meetings is to expedite the review process.
(e) Voting. A majority of the membership of the Board, not including alternates, shall constitute a quorum, and any action or decision of the Board shall have the support of the majority of the quorum present. Alternate Members will be invited any time a regular Member cannot be present or has a conflict of interest that prevents them from voting.
(f) Establishing the Administrator of the Downtown Design Review Board. A staff member shall be appointed to act as the Administrator, whose duties include scheduling meetings, preparing meeting packets, issuing permits, maintaining files, and communicating information between the Board and Applicant.
(g) Establishing Administrative Review. The Administrator may review a prospective project to determine:
(1) The project is a Minor Alteration requiring only Administrator review; or
(2) The project is an alteration requiring Board review and approval. The Board may establish a set of criteria for these Administrator determinations.
(h) Effective Date. Nothing contained herein shall authorize the Board to require any site design or building design alterations that were completed prior to the effective date of this ordinance. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Board from enforcing aesthetic maintenance items as authorized by Section 1138.08 Minimum Maintenance Requirement. (Ord. 2023-115. Passed 12-19-23.)