[Adopted 11-5-1985 by L.L. No. 3-1985]
A. 
The Board of Trustees hereby finds that appropriate design and good quality materials for the exteriors of buildings, signs and other structures favorably affects the desirability of the immediate area and neighboring areas and, by so doing, enhances the benefits of occupancy and value of real property in such areas; improves conditions affecting the health, safety, comfort and general welfare of the community; promotes appropriate land use; and creates a favorable relationship between the taxable value of real property and the cost of municipal services required.
B. 
It is therefore the purpose of this article to prevent the harmful effects of inappropriate design and poor quality materials for the exteriors of buildings, signs and other structures erected in the village, and thus to conserve the value of real property; to encourage appropriate land use; and to promote and protect the health, safety, comfort and general welfare of the community.
A. 
There is hereby created an Architectural Review Board, which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Building Inspector and Planning Board and, upon request, shall consult with the Board of Trustees, the Zoning Board of Appeals and other Village boards and commissions. In addition, the Architectural Review Board shall have the authority to approve changes to any facade or roof in the Central Commercial (CC) District that do not require building permits, as provided in § 295-76 of this Code.
[Amended 11-16-2010 by L.L. No. 7-2010]
B. 
The Architectural Review Board shall consist of five members, who shall serve without compensation and shall be residents of the Village. All members of the Board shall be specifically qualified by reason of training in architecture, architectural engineering, interior design, community planning, landscape architecture or other relevant business or professional experience to judge the effects of a proposed building upon the desirability, property values and development of surrounding areas; and at least one and preferably three members of such Board shall be registered architects of the State of New York.
C. 
The Village Board shall appoint an alternate member of the Architectural Review Board to serve for a period of three years. The alternate member shall substitute for a member of the Architectural Review Board in the absence of a member or in the event that a member is unable to participate because of a conflict of interest. All provisions of this chapter relating to Architectural Review Board members' eligibility, vacancy in office, and removal shall also apply to the alternate member.
[Added 11-16-2010 by L.L. No. 10-2010[1]]
[1]
Editor’s Note: This local law also provided for the redesignation of former Subsections C through H as Subsections D through I, respectively.
D. 
Members of the Architectural Review Board shall be appointed by the Village Board.
E. 
The term of office of each member shall be three years; except that initial appointments shall be two members with terms of three years, two members with terms of two years and one member with a term of one year.
F. 
The Village Board shall have the power to remove any member for cause after public hearing.
G. 
Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term of any member whose position becomes vacant.
H. 
The Mayor shall designate a member of the Architectural Review Board to serve as Chairman for a term of one year.
I. 
Meetings of the Architectural Review Board shall be held monthly and/or at such times as the Chairman of the Board may determine for the purpose of reviewing any application for permit referred to it. Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The Board shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing the vote of each member upon each question, or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall also keep records of its examinations and other official actions.
A. 
The Building Inspector shall promptly refer to the Board any application for a permit for the construction, reconstruction or alteration of any building, sign or other structure, but not for interior work that would not be visible from the street and not for detached single-family residential structures except those which are developed as part of a subdivision. The application shall be accompanied by such drawings and material samples as may be required to clearly indicate the design intent.
[Amended 12-17-1996 by L.L. No. 4-1996; 11-16-2010 by L.L. No. 7-2010]
B. 
The Architectural Review Board shall advise the Building Inspector within 30 days of its receipt of the application, drawings and material samples. The Building Inspector may attend meetings of the Architectural Review Board in order to be fully informed of its deliberations and recommendations.
C. 
If an application for permit requires action by the Planning Board, the Architectural Review Board shall consult with and advise the Planning Board regarding said application prior to such action by the Planning Board.
D. 
In advising the Building Inspector and Planning Board, the Architectural Review Board shall consider the following:
(1) 
Adjacent use of excessively similar or excessively dissimilar facades or structures arranged without respect to natural features of terrain or other existing structures.
(2) 
Appropriateness of a structure or land development in relation to any other structure or land development existing or for which a permit has been issued, or to any other structure or land development included in the same application in respect to one or more of the following features:
(a) 
Cubic contents.
(b) 
Gross floor area.
(c) 
Height of building or height of roof.
(3) 
Appropriateness of other significant design features, such as material or quality of architectural design, roof structures, chimneys, exposed mechanical equipment and service and storage enclosures, signs, landscaping, retaining walls, fences, lighting posts and standards.
E. 
A finding of inappropriateness shall state not only that such inappropriateness exists, but also that such finding is not based on personal preference as to taste or architectural style, and further that the inappropriateness is of such a nature as to be expected to provoke beyond reasonable doubt one or more of the following harmful effects:
(1) 
Impairment of conditions affecting the health, safety, comfort or general welfare of inhabitants of the immediate area or neighboring areas.
(2) 
Impairment of the benefits of occupancy or value of improved or unimproved real property in the immediate area or neighboring areas.
(3) 
Conflict with most appropriate use of land in the immediate area or neighboring areas.
(4) 
Creation of an adverse relationship between the taxable value of real property and the cost of municipal services required to be provided therefor.
F. 
Except by mutual agreement of the applicant and the Architectural Review Board, the Board must render a decision on an application referred to it under § 295-76 within two meetings after a completed application is submitted. In the event the Board fails to render a decision on an application within such time frame, or within such extended period agreed to by mutual consent, approval shall be deemed to have been given.
[Amended 11-16-2010 by L.L. No. 7-2010]