[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Franklin 12-28-2005 by Ord. No. O-26-2005. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Land development — See Ch. 253.
The creation of an Architectural and Landscape Design Advisory Board is hereby established, whose purpose it shall be to review new nonresidential development within Franklin Township, including renovation and rehabilitation to existing nonresidential structures, maintaining the guidelines towards architectural design as detailed within Chapter 253 et seq., of the Code of the Township of Franklin.
A. 
The Architectural and Landscape Design Advisory Board shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Planning Board or Zoning Board as the case may be.
B. 
The function of the Architectural and Landscape Design Advisory Board is to review all applications for all proposed nonresidential structures to the adherence of the architectural and landscape design standards as set forth within Chapter 253 of the Franklin Township Code, and in accordance with such section, to offer recommendations and advice as to their findings, in writing, to the Franklin Township Planning Board or Zoning Board as the case may be.
C. 
Where nonresidential site complexes are proposed, the Architectural and Landscape Design Advisory Board shall also include a review of the entire site development proposal, inclusive of building spatial relationships, issues of scale, pedestrian and vehicular circulation, buffering, landscaping and other issues deemed relevant to the respective application.
D. 
All applications shall be reviewed by the Architectural and Landscape Design Advisory Board at least two weeks prior to being heard by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment as the case may be. It is the responsibility of the applicant to coordinate all necessary scheduling with the appropriate board. No application for development shall be deemed complete by the Planning or Zoning Board as the case may be until the applicant has appeared before the Architectural and Landscape Design Advisory Board.
A. 
The Architectural and Landscape Design Advisory Board shall be comprised of seven members. The members shall hold no municipal elected office, or employment, except for membership on the Planning Board, Zoning Board or other appointed nonremunerated position. Members shall consist of:
(1) 
Three members of the Planning Board.
(2) 
Two members of the Zoning Board.
(3) 
Two residents of Franklin Township.
B. 
The terms of the members shall be for three years and shall be structured on a staggered basis of reappointment. Initially, two members shall be appointed for one year, three members for two years, and two members for three years. At the expiration of the terms described above, reappointment shall be for a three-year term of office.
C. 
Members on the Planning Board or Zoning Board shall hold membership on the Architectural and Landscape Design Advisory Board for the term of membership on the respective board, but in no event shall the term exceed three years. Should the term of membership of a Planning Board or Zoning Board appointed member expire or be terminated prior to the appointed Architectural and Landscape Design Review Board term, and said member is not reappointed to the Planning Board or Zoning Board, the Architectural Design Review Board position shall be relinquished, and a new member of the respective board shall be appointed to fill the unexpired Architectural and Landscape Design Review Board term.
D. 
Vacancies on the Board shall be promptly filled by appointment of the Franklin Township Committee to fill such unexpired terms.
A. 
The officers of the Architectural and Landscape Design Advisory Board shall consist of a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, annually elected by the full membership of the Board. The Chair shall preside at meetings and shall decide all points of order and procedure. All powers of the Chairperson shall equally apply to the Vice Chair when the Vice Chair is acting as Chairperson in the latter's absence. The Board shall have a secretary to be appointed by the Township Committee, whose responsibilities shall include the taking of minutes, preparation of agendas and creation of an audio record.
B. 
A quorum needed to conduct business shall be three members.
Architectural and Landscape Design Advisory Board meetings shall be conducted once per month, on a schedule to be determined by the Township. Meetings will be held in the Municipal Building and may be subject to cancellation due to the lack of an agenda. All meetings shall be open to the public and duly advertised in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, except where otherwise provided by law.
Nothing contained within the architectural design requirements shall be construed to apply to such existing or proposed business entities recognized as meeting the agricultural guidelines pursuant to the Right to Farm Act, and in fact, any such agricultural business entity shall be and is hereby excluded from the requirements as set forth within the Architectural and Landscape Design Ordinance of Franklin Township.