[R.O. 2011 §2.57.010; Ord. No. 6617 §1 (part), 2006]
The intent of the City Council is to establish a Residential
Infill Review Board (IRB) that shall field complaints in matters of
residential infill to ascertain whether the desires of the neighboring
property owners and of the applicant can be brought closer together.
The IRB shall act solely in an advisory capacity. The IRB shall have
no power to adopt, enforce, or administer any building, subdivision,
zoning or other regulation or ordinance.
[R.O. 2011 §2.57.020; Ord. No. 6617 §1 (part), 2006]
The IRB shall consist of seven (7) members. Additionally, three
(3) members of the Plan Commission may be appointed by and at the
discretion of the Chairperson of the Plan Commission; all members
shall be citizens of University City. No member will receive monetary
compensation. The IRB may elect from its members a Chairperson, a
Vice Chairperson, and a Secretary. It may adopt such rules of procedure
as it deems necessary to effectuate the provisions of this Chapter.
The Secretary shall submit written summaries of each IRB meeting to
the City Council and City Manager.
[R.O. 2011 §2.57.030; Ord. No. 6617 §1 (part), 2006]
The Mayor and each Councilmember may appoint one (1) of the
first (1st) members. Thereafter, all vacancies shall be appointed
by the City Council. Of those first (1st) appointed, each shall be
randomly assigned a one (1), two (2) or three (3) year term, renewable
thereafter for three (3) year terms. Appointment priority should be
given to qualified design reviewers who are competent to interpret
proposals and make judgments regarding both design guideline conformance
and design quality. Every effort should be made to include at least
one (1) architect and one (1) landscape architect. Members are subject
to removal without cause by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the City Council.
[R.O. 2011 §2.57.040; Ord. No. 6617 §1 (part), 2006]
A. All
property owners within three hundred (300) feet of the project property
with street frontage on the same street and all property owners within
one hundred fifty (150) feet of the project property shall be notified
by the Zoning Administrator, within ten (10) days of receipt of an
application, that they may request a public hearing with the applicant
and design agent present to explain the project and answer questions.
The applicant shall include a list of such property owners and their
addresses with the application when it is filed.
B. A public hearing shall be held, with the property owners, applicant, and developer present, if a petition signed by at least sixty percent (60%) of the property owners within said radius is presented to the Zoning Administrator within ten (10) business days after notification is sent to the property owners, with a contact person designated therein. The Zoning Administrator shall notify the contact person of the date, time and location of the public hearing. At the public hearing, which shall be set up by the Zoning Administrator and held by the IRB within ten (10) days after the Zoning Administrator's receipt of the petition, if the applicant is not willing to make changes asked for to the satisfaction of the petitioners, then the IRB shall perform its duties as set out in Section
120.1020 of this Chapter.
[R.O. 2011 §2.57.050; Ord. No. 6617 §1 (part), 2006]
A. The
IRB shall examine applications for residential subdivisions and building
permits related thereto to determine whether the proposed project
will achieve general conformity with the prevailing style and design
of the surrounding neighborhood and is conducive to the proper residential
development of the City. "Subdivision", as used in
this Chapter, shall mean:
1. The division or re-division of a tract of land into two (2) or more
lots; or
2. The consolidation of two (2) or more tracts of land into one (1)
lot; or
3. The adjustment of one (1) or more boundaries between two (2) or more
lots.
B. The
IRB shall review applications for residential subdivisions and building
permits for new construction which is replacing a house to be demolished
or which had been demolished within three (3) years of the application
date on the existing lot for compliance with the spirit of the Comprehensive
Plan, specifically with regard to ensuring that the neighborhood is
not harmed by devaluation due to lot size, setbacks, water drainage,
tree removal, availability of off-street parking and access by emergency
vehicles, or other pertinent factors.
C. In determining whether the proposed infill building conforms with the prevailing neighborhood pattern, the IRB shall consider all factors including, without limitation, whether the proposed infill building conforms with Subsections
(A) and
(B) of this Section, and additionally the
1. Massing and volumetric articulation;
2. Roof geometry and roofing materials;
3. Facade composition and fenestration patterns;
4. Facade materials, details, and ornamentation; and
5. Landscaping patterns, forms and materials.
D. The
IRB shall strive to ensure that individual creativity is not suppressed
just for the sake of strict conformity.
[R.O. 2011 §2.57.060; Ord. No. 6617 §1 (part), 2006]
A. As
soon as possible, but not more than ten (10) days after a scheduled
public hearing, the IRB shall report its recommendations for approval
or disapproval of applications for residential subdivisions to the
Zoning Administrator for presentation to the Plan Commission. Once
the Plan Commission approves or disapproves the recommendations of
the IRB, the recommendations shall be reported to the City Council
and the City Manager. The recommendations of the IRB shall not be
binding on the Plan Commission or the City Council.
B. As
soon as possible, but not more than ten (10) days after a scheduled
public hearing, the IRB shall report its recommendations for approval
or disapproval of applications for building permits to the Zoning
Administrator for presentation to the City Manager and the City Council.
The recommendations of the IRB shall not be binding on the City Manager
or the City Council.
C. The
IRB shall, from time to time, recommend to the City Council changes
in the building, subdivision, and zoning ordinances for more harmonious
and neighborhood-enhancing subdivisions and residential infill construction
within any neighborhood.