News
News for City Old & Historic Districts
Commission on Architecture Review (CAR) Task Force to Hear Public Comment on Proposed Changes
A Task Force to review the guidelines, policies and procedures of the CAR was convened by City Council in the fall of 2009 and in ongoing monthly meetings gathered to discuss the existing City Old & Historic District zoning ordinance; CAR composition and procedures; the standards used in awarding certificates of appropriateness for new development, additions, and renovations in City Old & Historic Districts; and the existing CAR appeals process, among other issues. The Task Force was chaired by City Councilperson Bruce Tyler, and composed of a range of architects, developers, City of Richmond Department of Community Development staff, and current and former CAR members. The overarching goal of the Task Force was to respond to issues raised by the public, City Council, and by applicants in commission proceedings regarding the clarity of the CAR guidelines, their application, and the administrative processes involved in their undertaking.
The following is an abbreviated summary of significant recommended changes and clarifications of CAR policies and procedures made by Task Force subcommittees, summarized by the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods. Please note that the original subcommittee reports are available by clicking on the links above.
Citizens who wish to comment on the subcommittee recommendations during the public hearing may sign up by contacting the Office of the City Clerk at (804) 646-7955 prior to 12:00 noon on Thursday, February 4th.
CAR GUIDELINES
Regarding new construction & additions to existing buildings:
- New construction should be compatible with and reference historic features that characterize the surrounding district, in terms of materials, features, size, scale, proportions, and massing of setting.
- New construction should be discernible from the historic surroundings to protect the authenticity of the district and its composite historic structures.
Regarding salvaged materials:
- The use of salvaged materials is encouraged to preserve historic building elements.
- Salvaged ornamental features that evidence a specific style and period should only be used if there is documentation to show that the elements were once part of the property.
- Adding salvaged materials the style of which suggests an inaccurate or undocumented evolution of a building should not be undertaken “because this confuses our understanding of the evolution of Richmond’s historic built environment.”
- Salvaged elements of simple style may be reused on most renovation projects.
CAR MEMBERSHIP
- Recommended change of the terms of office for commissioners from 5 to 3 years
- Membership should be staggered with 3 members being appointed each year
- Commission to be composed of 9 members: 5 members are to be “at large” citizens appointed by City Council, and 4 members are to be nominated by the following local organizations:
- James River Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
- Historic Richmond Foundation
- Richmond Association of Realtors
- Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods
- “No officer or employee of any of the nominating organizations set forth above shall be eligible to be nominated.”
- All organizations named above shall provide written description of their nominating process; this process must be approved by City Council.
- The City must ensure continuing education in historic preservation to commissioners.
- It will not be necessary to include a member of City Council or the Planning Commission as a non-voting member of the CAR; nor will priority in appointments be awarded to residents of City Old & Historic Districts.
CAR PROCESS & PROCEDURES
Administrative Review
- The Commission will authorize the Secretary of the CAR to approve certificates of appropriateness for applications without full commission action, “unless the secretary finds that a particular structure has unique characteristics that may call for a different design treatment,” in which case the applicant shall come before the CAR.
- “When a certificate of appropriateness application involves a substantial impact… property owners of property within 150 feet of the project shall be notified of the prospective change and of the date, time, and place of the meeting at which such change shall be considered by the commission.” This shall be done via the mail at least 7 days prior to the meeting.
- Substantial impact denotes a project incurring full or partial demolition, new construction, expansion of buildings or structures, or the modification of any public building or public right-of-way.
Appeals Process (CLICK HERE for a description of the existing appeals process)
- Council shall designate one councilperson to respond to CAR decision appeals when filed; that councilperson shall meet with appellant, with CAR designee, and with the councilperson whose district the project falls within. Meeting shall occur before the matter continues to City Council, allowing for discussion of details of appeal and possible resolution before Council meeting.
- “An appellant shall set forth, in writing, the grounds for an appeal, specifically including the procedure(s), standard(s) or guideline(s) alleged to have been violated or misapplied by the CAR, and any additional information, factors or opinions he or she deems relevant to the application.”
- Those appeals not set forth in writing will not be processed.
- An appellant form will be developed by the CAR and staff for this purpose.
- Appellant fee is $150 for single-family dwellings and shall be increased to $500 for all other building types.
- For appeals that reach City Council: “City Council shall state clearly its reasons for reversing or modifying the decision appealed… including the procedure(s) or standard(s) determined to have been misapplied by the Commission… or the City Council may affirm the decision of the Commission.”
Old & Historic District Designation Process (CLICK HERE for a description of the existing designation procedure)
- Postcards, supplied by city staff, shall be used to survey property owners.
- Returned postcards shall be used to gauge the level of support of property owners for City Old & Historic District designation.