Architectural Review Board
DIVISION 2. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD*
*Editor's note: After October 24, 1978, the board of historic buildings was known as the architectural review board.
State law references: Historic sites and architectural areas review boards, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2306.
Sec. 10-51. Creation.
The architectural review board (ARB) is hereby created.
(Code 1991, § 3-46)
Sec. 10-52. Powers and duties.
(a) The architectural review board is authorized and directed to carry out the following powers and duties:
(1) Perform, pursuant to section 18-32, all duties specified in section 513.1 of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, as amended;
(2) Implement and administer chapter 78, article III, division 23, which pertains to the Old and Historic Fredericksburg district. Based upon the criteria established in such division, it shall be the function of the architectural review board to pass upon the appropriateness of any exterior construction, reconstruction, exterior addition or alteration, exterior restoration, razing, relocation, or demolition of any building or structure within the Old and Historic Fredericksburg district, wherever the exteriorfeatures of such building or structure are visible from the public right-of-way; and
(3) Provide advisory review regarding the appropriateness of any exterior construction, reconstruction, exterior addition or alteration, exterior restoration, razing, relocation, or demolition of any building or structure located in the city on property owned or occupied by the city or other governmental entity outside of the Old and Historic Fredericksburg district, whenever the exterior features of such building or structure are visible from any public street or right-of-way or from any city-owned property. The city manager shall submit plans and specifications for all such exterior improvements to the architectural review board for advisory review. The architectural review board may establish written guidelines for applications, public hearings, standards of appropriateness, and other necessary standards and procedures to implement the terms of this subsection (a)(3). The architectural review board shall promptly forward the results of such review, including all relevant supporting documentation, to the city manager and the city council for their consideration.
(b) In addition, the architectural review board is authorized to perform the following duties:
(1) Survey and identify structures and areas within the city that are historically, archaeologically, or architecturally significant;
(2) Make comments and recommendations to the planning commission and the city council regarding the comprehensive plan, zoning, subdivision, and other land use issues;
(3) Undertake educational programs and activities; and
(4) Accept funds, gifts, and donations from federal, state, and private sources to accomplish the functions listed in this subsection.
(Code 1991, § 3-47)
Sec. 10-53. Membership.
(a) The architectural review board shall consist of seven city residents appointed by the city council. The members shall meet the following criteria:
(1) All members shall have a demonstrated interest, competence, or knowledge in historic preservation.
(2) At least one member shall be a registered architect or an architectural historian.
(3) At least one other member shall have professional training or equivalent experience in architecture, history, architectural history, archaeology, or planning.
(b) Vacancies on the board shall be filled within 60 days.
(c) Each member shall be appointed for a term of four years.
(Code 1991, § 3-48)
Sec. 10-54. Officers.
The architectural review board shall elect from its own membership a chair, vice-chair, and a secretary, who shall serve annual terms.
(Code 1991, § 3-49)
Sec. 10-55. Regular meetings; special meetings; quorum; rules of procedure.
(a) There shall be regular monthly meetings of the architectural review board, except that at the discretion of the chair a regular meeting may be cancelled if there is no business pending before the board and after inquiry of the other members there is no known new business to be presented.
(b) Special meetings of the board may be called by the chair or by two members upon written request of the secretary. The secretary shall mail to all members of the board, at least five days in advance of a special meeting, a written notice fixing the time and place of the meeting and the purpose thereof. Written notice of a special meeting is not required if the time of the special meeting has been fixed at a regular meeting or if all members are present at the special meeting or file a written waiver of notice.
(c) For the conduct of any hearing and the taking of any action, a quorum shall be not less than a majority of all members of the board.
(d) The board may make, alter, or rescind rules and forms for its procedures, consistent with this division and the general laws of the commonwealth.
(Code 1991, § 3-50)
Secs. 10-56--10-70. Reserved.
Last Update: 7 March 2006
Name: Gary Stanton, Dept of Historic Preservation
Email: gstanton@umw.edu