(A) Establishment. There is established an Architectural Review Board consisting of three members to be appointed by the Mayor.
(B) Intent. The Architectural Review Board shall assist and advise the Planning Commission on the design, amenities, quality, relationships to natural features, existing buildings and all other aspects of the site development plan which relate to the appearance of an entire project, all of its parts and its surroundings. All standards, regulations and criteria, contained in this Zoning Code, shall be considered by the Board in its review.
(C) Terms and qualifications. Each member shall be appointed for a term of two years. One member of the Architectural Review Board shall be a registered architect and the second member shall be a landscape architect, architect or a person skilled in the general field of aesthetics and design, and the third may be any member of the community.
(D) Meetings. The Planning Commission shall determine and advise the Architectural Review Board on the schedule of meetings in order that applications can be process expeditiously.
(E) Conflict of interest. No person appointed to the Architectural Review Board shall participate in the review of, or give advice upon, any work in which he or she, his or her partner or professional associate or associates has any direct or indirect interest.
(F) Compensation. Compensation shall be paid each member of the Architectural Review Board as is fixed by Council. With the submission of each application the Building and Zoning Official shall require a deposit to be made by the developer to cover a review expense in such amount as Council shall require.
(G) Review procedures of application. After receipt of a complete submission of an application, the Planning Commission may refer all proposed site development and building plans filled with it to the Architectural Review Board for purposes of review and report:
(1) Submission of applications. All applications for building permits with accompanying drawings, renderings, data and material samples to be used, shall be submitted to the Building Official. After processing the same, he or she shall submit such applications as provided in this section.
(2) Multi-family, institutional, business, commercial and industrial buildings. The Architectural Review Board shall submit to the Secretary of the Commission, all applications for multi-family, institutional, business, commercial and industrial buildings for Commission review of the proposed use, parking, setbacks and yard requirements for conformance with the provisions of this Zoning Code and any supplementary rules and regulations which have been adopted and published. This requirement shall affect both new construction and alterations or additions to existing buildings of these types.
(3) Application review. Upon receipt of the application, the Secretary of the Commission shall transmit a copy of such application of the Board for its review, report and recommendations. The Board shall, within 30 days for receiving such application, provide and furnish to the Commission its report upon its respective jurisdiction. Within 60 days after an application has been filed with the Secretary or such longer time as agreed upon by the developer and Commission, the Commission shall evaluate the development proposal and report of the Board, and shall make a finding either that the proposal complies with regulations, standards and criteria prescribed by this chapter applicable to the proposal, or a finding of any failure of such compliance and shall approve, disapprove or modify such proposal.
(4) Approval. If the application for building permit is approved by the Commission as required in this section, the Director shall issue a building permit.
(5) Failure to act. If the Architectural Review Board fails to act within 30 days after it has received the application for a building permit from the Commission, the Commission shall consider the application as recommended for approval by the Board.
(H) Report. Three copies of the report of the Architectural Review Board shall be prepared. One shall be filed with the Planning Commission for its use, one shall be filed with the Clerk of Council and shall be open to public inspection and one copy shall be retained by the Board. The Board shall complete its report and recommendation within 30 days after referral of an application by the Commission.
(I) Standards and criteria. The following standards and criteria are established to guide the Architectural Review Board in its review of development proposals.
(1) Materials. Materials shall be appropriate for the use of building, for weathering and for relationships to other materials including those used on adjacent buildings.
(2) Colors and textures. Colors and textures shall be appropriate for the size and scale of the building, weathering and for relationships to the site and adjacent buildings.
(3) Architectural details and ornaments. Architectural details and ornaments shall be meaningful to the overall design and appropriate for the size and scale of the building and for weathering.
(4) Mechanical equipment. Mechanical equipment shall be considered as it affects rooftop appearance, sidewall openings, sound levels, smoke and other nuisance aspects. Also, mechanical
equipment shall be considered as it relates overhead wires, gas and electric meter stations, and any other visible appurtenances.
(5) Approaches, drives and parking areas. Approaches, drives and parking areas shall be considered as they affect the appearance from the street and from the site as well. The relationship of paving to the building shall be appropriate considering factors such as safety, drainage and landscaping.
(6) Landscaping. Landscaping shall be appropriate for the size and use of the area, and for its relationship to building, street, parking areas, walks and adjacent buildings.
(7) Lighting. Lighting shall be considered for the appropriateness of nighttime illumination of the grounds, drives, walks, parking areas, the building and its affect upon surrounding areas.
(8) Signs. Signs shall be considered for appropriateness of size, scale, shape, color and illumination in relation to building site.
(Res. 21-1165, passed 7-20-21)