[Adopted 1-11-2012[1]]
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also superseded former
Art. XI, Design Advisory Board, adopted 3-3-2004.
Pursuant to the provision of § 5-5 of the Charter of the Town of Clinton, the Design Advisory Board was established by ordinance January 19, 2000, the name changed to the Design Review Board (DRB) by the 2002 Charter, and on April 21, 2004, modifications were made to the original ordinance. This article provides the authority necessary to enable the DRB to be designated the Village District Consultant and act as the Architectural Review Board under Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) § 8-2j, Village districts. It shall supersede the preceding ordinances.
The purpose of the Design Review Board is to:
A.
Provide an advisory group that will evaluate applications that are
required to go before the Planning and Zoning Commission or Zoning
Board of Appeals from an architectural and aesthetic perspective,
which involve site, building and sign development or redevelopment
and construction, with the goal of preserving the quality of our heritage
and environment;
B.
Work with owners, builders and developers to foster the improvement
of the Town's appearance seeking to avoid both excessive uniformity
and excessive variety in architectural styles and, instead, strive
to promote harmony between the various elements and surroundings in
order to preserve and enhance property values;
C.
Develop guidance materials that will assist applicants in understanding
what design features, materials and components are considered to be
acceptable for developments in the Town;
D.
Draft general design standards applicable to all zones and specific
design standards for each zone for which there are such requirements
in the Zoning Regulations, to be recommended to the Planning and Zoning
Commission for its action;
E.
Submit to the Planning and Zoning Commission for its action proposals
for zoning regulations governing signs, plans, new building construction
and building renovations, in order to further the DRB's goal
of improving the appearance and aesthetic quality of the Town. Such
proposed regulations may require that applications be evaluated in
terms of overall quality, ability to harmonize with the surroundings
and attainment of the goals of the design standards in the Zoning
Regulations.
All permit and regulation recommendations of the Design Review
Board shall be advisory. The Board's review shall pertain to
all applications in Village Districts established pursuant to C.G.S.
§ 8-2j, as may be amended, Business, Industrial, Marine
and the Village Zones, excluding the Liberty Green Historic District
as described in documents on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
The Board shall be designated as the Village District Consultant and
perform the function of Architectural Review Board for the Town with
regards to all Village Districts. With respect to applications in
zones in which they have been adopted, the Design Review Board shall
take into consideration the specific design criteria and standards
set forth in the Clinton Zoning Regulations.
The Design Review Board shall consist of five members and two
alternates, appointed in accordance with the Town Charter, Chapter
2, § 2-3, with due consideration given to candidates nominated
by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Members of the Planning and
Zoning Commission are eligible for membership on the Design Review
Board. There shall be no more than two members from the Planning and
Zoning Commission. Three of said members and one of said alternate
members shall be appointed for an initial term of two years, and one
of said alternate members shall be appointed for an initial term of
one year. Following the expiration of the initial terms in office,
all subsequent appointments shall be for terms of three years. Any
vacancy on the Board shall be filled by the Board of Selectmen for
the unexpired portion of the term.
A.
In appointing members of the Design Review Board, the Board of Selectmen
shall seek and appoint a mix of knowledgeable experts and laymen.
The experts shall have knowledge of such fields as architecture, urban
planning, landscape architecture, site planning, professional engineering,
graphic design, interior design and other related fields. The laymen
shall be drawn from individuals demonstrating a high level of interest
and commitment to the work of the Board. All members shall be electors
of Clinton. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint to the Board at least
one member who is an architect, landscape architect or planner who
is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
B.
If at any time there is not a member on the Board who is an architect,
landscape architect or planner who is a member of the American Institute
of Certified Planners, the DRB shall be provided with access to a
budget for professional services from which it shall pay for the services
of an architect, or architectural firm, landscape architect, or planner
who is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, to
review all applications for Village districts, whom the DBA shall
be authorized to designate as its Village District Consultant under
C.G.S. § 8-2j.
The Planning and Zoning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals
shall submit any matter within the scope of the Design Review Board
for review, evaluation and recommendation to the developer by the
Board. The above Board and Commission shall also have the option of
directing any matter to the Design Review Board for a preliminary
review, evaluation and recommendation to the developer prior to their
consideration. Owners, developers and builders are encouraged as early
as possible to seek advice from the Design Review Board separate from
any direction by the Planning and Zoning Commission or the Zoning
Board of Appeals.
A.
No review of an application by the Design Review Board shall affect
the timeliness of decision for any application by the Planning and
Zoning Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals. Therefore, the review
is to be conducted within the first month after the official receipt
of a Planning and Zoning application; within 21 days of submission
of a Zoning Board of Appeals application; and when submitted to the
Design Review Board for a preliminary review prior to application
to the Commission or Board, within 35 days of receipt, whichever occurs
first. These time frames should assure that the Board will submit
its review before the first meeting at which the Commission, or Board,
might render its decision on an application. Failure of the Board
to report within the specified time shall not alter or delay any other
time limit imposed by the zoning regulations.
B.
As the Design Review Board's role is advisory, its report to
the Planning and Zoning Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals shall
state the reasons behind and cite the specific regulations under which
the evaluation and recommendations, which it has made, are based.
No recommendation shall be made which is contrary to any specific
standards or design criteria as set forth in the Clinton Zoning Regulations.
Reports of the Design Review Board shall be entered into the public
hearing record, or, if there is no public hearing, the report shall
be entered into the record, and considered by the Planning and Zoning
Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals in making its decision. If the
Planning and Zoning Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals grants or
denies an application under C.G.S. § 8-2j, Village districts,
it shall state upon the record the reasons for its decision. If it
denies an application, the reason for the denial shall cite the specific
regulations under which the application was denied. No approval of
the Commission or Board shall be effective until a copy thereof, certified
by the Commission or Board, containing the name of the owner of record,
a description of the premises to which it relates and specifying the
reason for its decision, is recorded in the land records of the Town.
The Town Clerk shall index the same in the grantor's index under
the name of the-then record owner, and the record owner shall pay
for such recording.
There shall be two meetings of the Design Review Board scheduled
each month. Meetings may be canceled if there is no project to review.
