The Design Review Board shall perform the following duties:
(a) Design Review Board Criteria. The Board shall follow design criteria that will direct its decisions. The criteria shall be adopted according to the appropriate ordinance. It shall be available to the public. The Board shall require all applicants to show that submitted projects conform to the design criteria, and to describe the project’s probable impact on the proposed site, adjacent properties and the overall character of Sebring. The Board may amend the criteria as needed.
(b) Design Review Process. The Board shall review for approval all new construction, exterior modification, exterior alteration, addition, relocation or demolition of any building or structure or part thereof, provided, however, that none of the foregoing shall be construed to require approval of plans relating to any new construction, alteration, addition, relocation or demolition of any single-family dwelling in Sebring other than those designated as landmarks or those within the preservation district. All design changes in signage or major pedestrian and vehicular accesses shall be approved by the Board prior to issuance of a building or zoning permit.
(1) Application for project approval shall be transmitted to the Board from the Building Inspector after his/her approval. Submission to the Board shall be made no later than five days prior to the meeting of the Board.
(2) The Board shall consider all applications at the meeting following submission. If additional information is required, the Board shall so inform the applicant and may delay a decision until the meeting following submission of such additional information. If the Board makes no decision at that time, and if the application has been properly
submitted, the application shall be deemed approved. In either case, the applicant shall be notified in writing of the decision of the Board within five days after the decision. If the Board disapproves the application, it must, within five days, submit a written statement to the applicant of the reasons for its disapproval, and state the specific violations of the design review criteria. The applicant may then either revise and resubmit the design application or he may request a hearing.
(c) Sebring Landmarks and Preservation District. The Board may designate such Sebring landmarks and preservation districts as it deems proper. Council shall formally approve all designations after it has been reviewed by the Design Board and the Planning Commission.
(1) “Sebring Landmark” means a building, structure or feature that is the site of a significant historical event or identified with a person who contributed significantly to Sebring’s history, or that is unique for its location as a familiar and established visual feature of Sebring, or that embodies particular architectural style or unusual details, or that is the work of particular builder or architect. Such buildings shall generally be over fifty years of age.
(2) “Sebring Preservation District” means an area that, through its visual character, has definable educational, social, historical or architectural significance to Sebring and the region.
(3) Landmark and District designation recognize the particular importance of buildings, structures, sites and areas, pointing out their educational and cultural value to the community. Designation promotes awareness of the local heritage. All landmarks and Districts shall have property lines as their boundaries.
(4) For each proposed District or landmark, all relevant information shall be gathered into a public record which shall be made available upon request. The record may be amended as further research is completed. All proposed Districts or landmarks shall be accepted or changed according to procedures.
(5) Upon formal approval by Council, all Sebring landmarks and preservation Districts shall be considered official, and shall be shown on the official Zoning Map of Sebring. The Board may propose a change in or the dissolution of any landmark or District and shall submit such change or dissolution to Planning Commission, and Council for its approval.
(d) Demolition Permits. For any Preservation District or Sebring landmark, the Building Inspector issues a permit for the demolition of all or part of a structure, the Building Inspector shall transmit the application for demolition to the Board for consideration. The Board shall require a statement of the reasons why the building or parts of the building are being considered for demolition. In case of demolition in the District, then the Board may stop demolition for a period of ninety days. In the case of a landmark, if the Board finds that demolition would severely alter the exterior architectural importance or otherwise affect the reasons upon which the landmark was designated, the Board may stop demolition for a period of ninety days. In the ninety day period, the property owner and the Board shall explore all means of protecting the structures from demolition, whether by adaptive use, remodeling or other means.
(Ord. 1676-00. Passed 6-12-00.)