1139.01 INTRODUCTION.
The City of Findlay has adopted the following design guidelines for the Downtown Design Review District. This booklet is designed to give property owners and developers a sense of the criteria utilized in reviewing projects for appropriateness. The guide is not a set of regulations set-in-stone but rather a tool to help visualize and convey the design goals and character of the Downtown Design Review District.
The Downtown Design Review District, as adopted by the City of Findlay, encompasses the geographic area highlighted on the zoning map.
(a) Role. The Downtown Design Guidelines comprise the minimum design criteria and range of performance guidelines suggested for the overlay district, which exemplify the design direction that the City of Findlay recommends as appropriate. Additionally, the Downtown Design Review Board will encourage property owners to preserve the historic character of their building. The role of the Design Guidelines is different from the more precise regulations found in the zoning code. The Design Guidelines:
(1) Do not dictate specific limits, nor does strict adherence to them necessarily assures approval of an application;
(2) Are not rigid sets of rules, but rather a guide on how to make improvements in the overlay district which are compatible with its character;
(3) Give building owners advice on how to undertake work in the district, and they give the Design Review Board a way to determine whether the proposed work is appropriate; and
(4) Set broad parameters within which changes should occur in order to achieve business and economic development, while maintaining many opportunities for design creativity and individual choices and tastes.
(b) Purpose. The purpose of the Design Guidelines is to help owners to make improvements consistent with the scale, form and character of the downtown. This, in turn, will help to promote economic development, business expansion, and residential opportunities in the area. These guidelines are also in place to protect the significant public and private investment that has occurred downtown.
(c) Design Review Process. As stated in the City of Findlay Downtown Design Review District Ordinance, the Design Review Board shall review all exterior façade alterations, additions, and new construction within the Downtown Design Review District. Repairs and alterations or other modifications not visible from the street or alley shall not be reviewed.
How does the process begin?
The recommended first step in the Design Review process is a pre-application meeting between the applicant and the Design Review Board Administrator. After a preliminary review of the applicant's proposal, the Administrator will determine if the project can be approved administratively or if it should go before the Design Review Board.
How is a decision made to approve or deny an application?
(1) When the property owner or occupant/tenant intends to construct, reconstruct, or alter any portion of a structure within the district, they shall first apply for and secure a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Design Review Board. The application for a certificate shall be deposited with the Design Review Board Administrator, together with such plans, specifications and drawings needed to convey the scope of the project. The application must contain the following:
A. Completed Application Form.
B. Application fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
C. Photographs of existing conditions.
D. Colored drawings of proposed project showing all exposed façades of the building.
E. List of materials to be used in the project including proposed colors.
(2) The Administrator shall transmit the application to the Design Review Board Members.
(3) Within forty-five (45) days of filing, the Board shall consider the application package and approve, deny, or table the application. Review of the application shall be based on Design Review Guidelines contained in this document.
(4) If the Board fails to meet and consider an application within forty-five days of filing, the application shall be deemed approved. Once the Board meets to consider the application the forty-five (45) day period is satisfied and no specific timeline is applied to the application. The Board may table an application for further discussion or factfinding purposes.
(5) The Board may require any person applying for a Certificate of Appropriateness to supply additional information with the Board prior to any hearing or determination to properly review the request.
(6) If the proposed construction, reconstruction, alteration is determined to have no adverse effect on the Downtown Design Review District, and does not violate the spirit and purpose of these regulations, then the Board Administrator shall issue the Certificate of Appropriateness.
(7) If the Design Review Board determines that the proposed construction, reconstruction, Alteration will have an adverse effect on the Downtown Design Review District, or violates the spirit and purposes of these guidelines, then the Board shall deny issuance of the Certificate of Appropriateness. The Board shall state in its records the reason for denial and transmit to the Applicant via proof of mailing the reasons for denial.
Figure 1.01 District Boundary Map: The Design Review Board Guidelines apply to the buildings within the outlined Downtown Design Review District overlay.
(Ord. 2023-115. Passed 5-19-23.)