[Amended 5-5-2009 by L.L. No. 13-2009]
A. The Town Board of the Town of Riverhead finds that new development
can have a substantial impact on the character of the area in which
it is located. While some harmful effects of one land use upon another
can be prevented through zoning, subdivision controls and housing
and building codes, other aspects of development are more subtle and
less amenable to exacting rules of thumb, promulgated without regard
to specific development proposals. Among these are the appearance
of buildings and open spaces as they contribute to an area as it is
being developed or redeveloped. Such matters require the timely exercise
of judgment in the public interest by people qualified to evaluate
the architectural design and appearance of a development and make
recommendations to the Board(s) vested with the authority to approve,
approve with conditions, or deny the proposed development.
B. The purpose and intent of architectural review shall include:
(1) Promote those visual qualities in the environment which bring value
to the community.
(2) Foster the attractiveness of the community as a place to live and
work.
(3) Preserve the character and quality of our heritage by maintaining
the integrity of those areas which have a discernible character or
are of special historic significance.
(4) Protect public and private investments in the area.
(5) Educate and raise the level of community awareness and expectations
for the quality of its environment.
C. Time period for review.
(1) The
architectural review shall adhere to the following time parameters:
(a)
Commence review of all architectural aspects of site plan, project
or development within 30 days or at its next regularly scheduled meeting
but not later than 45 days of referral to the Architectural Review
Board.
[Amended 11-19-2019 by L.L. No. 23-2019]
(b)
Advise the applicant of all architectural aspects of site plan
that must be supplemented, modified, or addressed within 60 days of
referral to the Architectural Review Board.
(c) Make recommendation to approve, approve with conditions, or deny
within 90 days of referral to the Architectural Review Board.
(2) The review period shall be extended to 120 days if coordinated review with the Landmarks Preservation Commission set forth in §
105-11D or a consultant retained pursuant to §
105-11B.
[Amended 11-19-2019 by L.L. No. 23-2019]
[Amended 12-2-2003 by L.L. No. 25-2003; 6-20-2006 by L.L. No.
20-2006; 5-5-2009 by L.L. No. 13-2009]
The Architectural Review Board, in examining applications referred
for architectural review and making recommendations to approve, deny
or recommend alternatives relative to a proposed site plan, project
or development, is to consider the various aspects of design, with
special emphasis on these objectives:
A. To prevent the unnecessary destruction or blighting of the natural
landscape or of the achieved man-made environment.
B. To ascertain that architectural treatments have been designed so
as to relate harmoniously to significant existing buildings that have
a visual relationship to the proposed development.
C. To coordinate compliance with other municipal ordinances that affect visual impact, such as the sign regulations contained in Chapter
301, Zoning and Land Development, and dumpster enclosures pursuant to §
245-8 of the Code of the Town of Riverhead.
D. To review applications together with the Landmarks Preservation Commission
for alterations or demolition of a designated structure or structures
within an historic district.
[Amended 5-5-2009 by L.L. No. 13-2009]
A. The Architectural Review Board shall not design or assist in the
design of any buildings or projects submitted for approval. The Board
shall restrict its considerations to a reasonable and professional
review of the proposal and plans, leaving full responsibility for
the design and development to the applicant.
[Amended 11-19-2019 by L.L. No. 23-2019]
B. Individual initiative and experimentation are to be encouraged.
C. The proponent's failure to take reasonable or timely account of the items discussed at §§
209-1 and
209-2 hereinabove shall justify the Board's recommendation to deny or disapprove a project.
D. In its endeavor to improve the quality of a design, the Board shall
keep consideration of cost in mind; however, said consideration shall
not override the other objectives of this chapter.
E. The Board is not to use architectural review intentionally or inadvertently
to exclude housing for minority groups or housing for low- and moderate-income
persons.
F. The Board is not to use architectural review intentionally or inadvertently
to prohibit or unduly restrict building types, materials or methods
or to vary the specific allowances or prohibitions of the Code of
the Town of Riverhead, the New York State Fire Prevention and Building
Code or other development controls.