§ 6-50. Design review board.

(a)

Created. The City hereby creates a board to be known as the "City of Danbury Design Review Board" (hereinafter the Board).

(b)

Purpose. The purpose of the Design Review Board is to encourage and facilitate excellence in the design of buildings, landscaping, and signs which will improve the appearance of the built environment and ensure compatible design within historic areas of the City.

(c)

Members, officers and meetings.

(1)

The Board shall consist of five (5) regular members and two (2) alternate members to be appointed by the Mayor. At least three (3) regular members and one (1) alternate member of the Board shall be specially qualified by reason of training and experience in architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, historic preservation, or similar training and experience. All members shall be legal residents and electors of the City of Danbury.

(2)

Members of the Board shall elect from among its regular members a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and a Secretary, each of whom shall hold office until his successor has been elected or upon resignation by the office holder. The Chairperson shall be responsible for conducting all meetings and for calling meetings as necessary to discharge the responsibilities of the Board on a timely basis. The Vice-Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson in his absence or inability. The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of each meeting, including all actions and recommendations taken by the Board. Election of officers shall take place during the first meeting of each calendar year. Alternate members shall be appointed by the Chairperson to serve in the place of any regular members absent from any meeting.

(3)

A quorum of the Board shall consist of three (3) members. Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of the meetings and the business of the Board.

(4)

The appointment of all members shall be for a term of four (4) years. All terms shall commence in odd numbered years.

(d)

Functions. It shall be the function of the Board to Review and make recommendations to all applicants on proposed improvements relating to the design and architecture of any proposed building, sign, and related landscaping under circumstances specified in subsection (e) of this section to ensure that such improvements are designed in a manner which is compatible with the character of the neighborhood, protects property values, and preserves and improves the appearance and beauty of the community. Proposals to preserve, rehabilitate, restore or reconstruct property listed on the National Register of Historic Places are urged to follow the standards and guidelines of the U.S. Department of the Interior; proposals for new construction and renovation of non-historic buildings in the Main Street Historic District are urged to follow the "Contextual Design Guidelines for Historic Districts" in the Danbury Plan of Conservation and Development, City of Danbury Comprehensive Planning Program, as amended. The Board may adopt such other standards and guidelines to promote the purposes of this section. Recommendations of the board shall be consistent with provisions of the zoning regulations and other codes and regulations of the City of Danbury.

(e)

Other functions. The Board may undertake such other activities as deemed appropriate to recognize and encourage excellence in design in the City of Danbury.

(f)

Staff. The staff of the Department of Planning and Zoning shall provide clerical support services to the Board.

(Code 1961, § 2-44(a)—(d), (h), (i); Ord. No. 668, 7-3-2007)