[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Colts Neck 6-9-1999. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Architectural Review Committee is hereby
established to promote the general welfare by preserving the exterior
architectural heritage of the Township of Colts Neck, specifically
by:
A.
Encouraging the rejuvenation and maintenance of all
structures built prior to 1875 in concert with the Historical Preservation
Committee.
B.
Stabilizing and improving property values.
C.
Fostering civic pride and beauty.
D.
Encouraging the private sector's involvement with
restoring and preserving certain traditionally significant structures.
E.
Providing advisory architectural reports pertaining
to new exterior construction.
F.
Providing advisory architectural reports to the Planning
Board and Board of Adjustment.
[Amended 2-27-2019]
The regulations of this chapter shall apply
to newly proposed subdivisions, site plan and variance applications.
[Amended 1-28-2004]
A.
The Township Committee shall appoint an Architectural
Review Committee consisting of nine residents of the Township, one
of whom shall be a member of a business association or the owner or
operator of a commercial business located in the Township, and one
of whom shall be a member of the Colts Neck Historical Preservation
Committee. Each member shall serve for a term of three years commencing
January 1 of each year and until their successors are appointed and
qualified. In January of each year, the Architectural Review Committee
shall elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from its members and
elect a Secretary who may or may not be a municipal employee.
B.
A member of the Township Committee shall be appointed
as a liaison to the Architectural Review Committee for a one-year
term.
[Amended 2-28-2007]
C.
Initial appointments shall be staggered so that three
citizen members shall be appointed for three-year terms, three citizen
members shall be appointed for two-year terms, and two citizen members
appointed for one-year terms.
[Amended 2-27-2019]
All applications to the Planning Board or Board
of Adjustment shall be referred to the Architectural Review Committee,
which Committee shall make a report within the time prescribed by
the Planning Board’s referral schedule. Said report shall be
advisory, with no final authority over any land use, zoning or planning
decisions. If no such report is received within 35 days of such referral,
the obligation to make such a referral shall be deemed satisfied.
A.
All applications filed with the Planning Board or
Board of Adjustment Secretary will be referred automatically to the
Architectural Review Committee.
B.
Upon the receipt by the Architectural Review Committee
of such a referral, the Committee shall either issue a letter of no
interest or a written report, as previously described, within the
time period prescribed by the Planning Board Secretary, but in no
case later than 35 days of such referral.
C.
The following exhibits may be required to be filed
with each application:
(1)
An overall site plan of the proposed project.
(2)
Building elevations of the subject property.
(3)
Architectural drawings, candid photographs or commercial
photographs showing details of construction, including exterior fixtures,
signs or furnishings.
(4)
Photographs of the subject property and adjacent properties.
(5)
Any other information or displays which clarify the
visual and physical impact of the proposed project.
D.
It shall be the duty of the applicant to inquire as
which of the above exhibits are necessary. Such inquiry shall be made
in writing to the Architectural Review Committee upon the initial
submission of such application to the Planning or Zoning Board of
Adjustment. The Architectural Review Committee may then determine
which submissions are necessary. The Architectural Review Committee
will review all applications submitted and issue a report or a letter
of no interest. Any deficiencies in an application will be noted in
said report indicating the impact, if any, of such deficiencies.
In furtherance of the purposes set out herein,
the Architectural Review Committee shall be guided by the following
in their review of any application referred to them by the Planning
Board or Board of Adjustment:
A.
Proposed exterior construction and signage may be
reviewed and specifically its impact on the streetscape and character
of the neighborhood may be considered in assessing it appropriateness.
B.
Exterior colors of structures may be considered. The
Committee may recommend a new color in those instances where three
or less colors will appear within four neighboring dwellings or one
color will appear within two neighboring dwellings situated on the
same or opposite side of the street within 300 feet of each other's
property lines.
C.
The Committee may consider, among other things, the
materials, general design, lighting, arrangements, structure and exterior
features, and the relationship of such features to similar features
of other structures in the immediate surrounding area, as well as
the position of such structures to the public way.
D.
There shall not be two dwellings which are neighboring,
situated on the same or opposite side of the street within 300 feet
of each other's property lines which are substantially alike in exterior
design and appearance.
The Architectural Review Committee shall hold
its regularly scheduled meeting monthly, at which time the applicant
may appear and present unsworn testimony and such other evidence deemed
relevant.
The Architectural Review Committee shall hold
its annual organization meeting in January of each year.
