Architectural Review - Bellerose Village Official

According to § 6-2 of the Village Code, the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) was created in order to establish a coordinated and streamlined permit application process; to promote the comfort, well-being and general welfare of the community; and to preserve and promote the character and appearance and conserve the property values of the Incorporated Village of Bellerose by providing procedures for an architectural review of the exterior of all structures henceforth erected, reconstructed, altered, or remodeled pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

The ARC, which serves as a committee of the Building Department of the Village of Bellerose, was established on April 1, 2012.

According to § 6-3, decisions are based on a project’s design and implementation focusing on whether the changes sought  would lead to excessive uniformity, dissimilarity, or poor quality of design in the exterior appearance of buildings or other structures erected or altered.

The Trustees of Bellerose Village realize that the exterior appearance of properties can adversely affect the desirability of the immediate and neighboring areas and, by so doing, impair the benefits of occupancy of existing property in such areas; impair the stability in value of real property in such areas; prevent the most appropriate development and use of such areas; produce degeneration of property in such areas with attendant deterioration or conditions affecting the health, safety, comfort, and general welfare of the inhabitants thereof; and contribute to the diminution of the taxable value of real property in such areas and their ability to support municipal services provided therefor.

According to § 6-4, one of the six members of the ARC is the Building Inspector, who serves as the Chairperson of this committee. The Building Inspector may participate in the discussions of the Architectural Review Committee, but shall not vote on matters under consideration by the Architectural Review Committee.

§ 6-8 and 6-8-1 state, “Except for the repair or replacement of doors, windows, roofs, railings, awnings, walkways, driveways, and exterior fixtures which are similar in size, shape, style, and color are exempt from the provisions of § 6-8 of this chapter of the Code, it is the duty of the Building Inspector to determine whether to submit to the Architectural Review Committee any application for a building permit for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, or remodeling of any exterior structure, or the demolition of an existing structure, within any district as identified on the Zoning Map of the Village of Bellerose, or for a sign permit submitted pursuant to other provisions of the Code of the Village of Bellerose.

§ 6-4 -A of the Code lists the qualification of the five members of the ARC :The other members of the Committee shall be residents of the Incorporated Village of Bellerose, who shall serve without compensation, and who shall be qualified by reason of training or experience in architecture, land development, municipal planning, real estate, landscape architecture, or other relevant business or profession, or by reason of civic interest and sound judgment to judge the effects of a proposed building or alteration or remodeling upon the desirability thereof.

The Architectural Review Committee is directed by § 6-11 of the Code to 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. Such Committee shall not design or assist in the design of any buildings or structures submitted for approval.

In its endeavor to improve the quality of design, the Architectural Review Committee shall consider costs as one factor along with design in its efforts to achieve the objectives of this chapter.