The Review Board and Building Commissioner shall use the following standards and guidelines in their review of proposals :
(a) Maintenance in, and improvement of, property values in the Municipality by preserving a planned and coordinated character of neighborhoods or businesses.
(b) Assurance that any new structures are, in exterior design, of a character which will enhance rather than detract from the appearance of the Municipality regardless of what period of architecture they may represent, and particularly avoidance of "blank walls," which are walls easily accessible to view and which are not interspersed with windows, doors, glass, decorative boxes or similar construction variables.
(c) Prevention of the alteration of the exterior of any existing buildings in a manner which might be harmful to them or their neighborhoods.
(d) Assurance that any on, or above-grade features of the site of a new or altered building, such as existing or new plantings, fences, walls, posts, signs, antennae or driveways, enhance rather than detract from the design of the building and appearance of the neighborhood and of the City.
(e) Accomplishment of the purposes above set forth by evaluating according to proper architectural principles, the design, use of materials, finished grade lines and orientation of all new buildings, hereafter erected, and the moving, alteration, improvement, repair, adding to, or razing in whole or in part, of all existing buildings, and the Board will exercise its powers and perform its duties for accomplishment of such purposes only.
(f) Prevention of the development of "look-alike" or identical structures in close proximity to each other as the same shall be regulated by the standards hereinafter established. The Board shall not approve a building permit to erect, construct, alter or enlarge any building or structure in any land use district which shall be like, or substantially like, any structure then in existence or for which a building permit has been issued, or which is included in the same building permit application, to the end that no more than two out of three, nor more than two out of five, nor more than three out of ten structures which are contiguous to each other shall be alike in the following three respects as pertains to the same side of the street.
(1) Height of the main roof ridge above mean ground grade line of the building unless the same be varied by at least five feet.
(2) Length of the main roof ridge unless the same be varied by at least five feet.
(3) Width between outside walls at the ends of the building or structure measured under the main roof at right angles to the length thereof unless the same shall be varied by at least five feet.
(g) Of the two out of three structures located upon contiguous lots to each other which are alike as specified in subparagraphs (f)(l), (2) and (3) hereof, shall be different from the other in at least four of the following respects in order to produce a change of facade:
(1) Roof line (hip, gable, dormers);
(2) Rearrangement of bulk (chimney and reversing);
(3) Window types (style relative to location);
(4) Opening types (garage doors) and rearrangement of same;
(5) Porch, breezeway rearrangement;
(6) Masonry change (stone, brick composition, size and bonds);
(7) Roof material (wood, slate, asphalt composition);
(8) Direction of siding and texture;
(9) Arrangement of building materials;
(10) Any other significant facade change not covered in the above.
(h) Look-alike or similar structures across the street from any part of the street line frontage, of the subject premises or from a lot referred to in this subsection, may be constructed alike in the same respects as in subparagraphs (f)(l), (2) and (3) hereof, but must maintain the variance standards of changing at least four out of the ten criteria above listed so as to produce a change in facade. On a cul-de-sac street development, the Board shall project an imaginary line through the center of the street entering the cul-de-sac and treat all structures in the same regard as above specified with the imaginary line being considered as a through street and shall apply the criteria as specified above.
(i) The Board shall only consider the exterior design features of the proposal as set forth herein.
(Ord. 84-2021. Passed 11-23-21.)