City Council

TOWN OF OCCOQUAN Town Hall, 314 Mill Street, Occoquan, VA 22125 www.occoquanva.gov | info@occoquanva.gov | (703) 491-1918 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MEETING July 26, 2022 | 7:30 p.m. 1. Call to Order 2. Citizen Comments 3. Approval of Minutes a. June 28, 2022 Meeting Minutes b. July 7, 2022 Subcommittee Meeting Minutes 4. Exterior Elevation Applications a. ARB2022-011: 202 Washington Street (Replace Siding) 5. Reports a. Town Council Report b. Town Manager’s Report c. Planning Commission Report d. Chair Report 6. Discussion Items a. Solar Panel Guideline Update 7. Adjournment Brenda Seefeldt Chair, Architectural Review Board Portions of this meeting may be held in closed session pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MEETING MINUTES June 28, 2022 In Attendance: Brenda Seefeldt, Darryl Hawkins, Lori Domenech, Carol Bailey, Cindy Fithian, Lisa Terry, Merial Currer; Alternates: Jennifer Shown, Theo Daubresse Excused Absent: None Call to Order- Brenda called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm 1. Citizen’s Comments - None 2. Approval of Minutes 1. April 26, 2022 Meeting Minutes – Brenda made a motion to accept, Merial 2nd, Approved 2. May 24, 2022 Meeting Minutes – Brenda made a motion to accept, Cindy 2nd, Approved 3. Exterior Elevation Applications 1. ARB2022-009 – 426 Mill Street - Replacement of doors with windows and replacement of existing gutters with copper gutters - Merial made a motion to accept, Lori 2nd, Approved 2. ARB2022-010 – 231 Mill Street - Replacement of low gate with higher, locking gate - Cindy made a motion to approve, Lisa 2nd, Approved (Lori abstained) 4. Reports 1. Town Council Report - Cindy reviewed some recent actions taken by Town Council (see website for details) 2. Town Manager’s Report - Lori asked Kirstyn about the temporary structure behind Atelier - Kirstyn is looking into it to see if the owner is in violation. 3. Planning Commission Report - Darryl reported that plans for River Walk were discussed. 4. Chair Report - Brenda asked about emails with Agendas. Apparently, several people didn’t receive them. Town staff will look into the matter. 5. Discussion Items  Design Guidelines: Solar Facilities Guidance – The Planning Commission is making recommendations to Town Council about allowing solar panel technology in Occoquan. The ARB has been asked to give wisdom about the impact on this in the Historic District. Matt Whitmoyer prepared a comprehensive look at what other Historic Districts have done about solar panels. The ARB reviewed and asked questions about this work. Discussion centered on the benefits of solar energy, the Town Council’s initiative to be more green, and the importance of keeping the Historic District historic with modern technology. The ARB doesn’t have to be too specific in defining guidelines because the ARB will be approving on a case-by-case basis anyway. A sub-committee was formed to explore what other historic districts are doing with this issue. Darryl, Cindy, and Merial agreed to participate. Brenda was invited to the first meeting to give her insight. The sub-committee will present their findings for the Design Guidelines at our next meeting. 6. Adjournment - 8:32 pm  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD SOLAR SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES July 7, 2022 In Attendance: Brenda Seefeldt, Merial Currer, Darryl Hawkins, and Cindy Fithian 1. Call to Order - 1:30 pm 2. Discussion Items The objective of the meeting was to review the June 24, 2022 memorandum Review of Common Architectural Review Board Design Guidelines on Solar Panels and Recommendations for the Occoquan ARB prepared by Matt Whitmoyer, Management Fellow, and the draft ordinance prepared by town staff. The Town Council has referred the draft ordinance to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission requested that the ARB offer insight and any proposed edits. A Solar Subcommittee was formed. Members include Merial Currer, Darryl Hawkins and Cindy Fithian, with Chair Brenda Seefeldt involved. Chair Seefeldt was present for the first twenty minutes to share more about what other Historic Districts decided regarding their guidelines. Solar Subcommittee discussion included protecting the authenticity and aesthetics of Occoquan’s Historic District, while encouraging residents and business owners to help improve the environmental green factor of our town by offering language that solar panels and other solar technologies are to be placed as inconspicuously as possible. Discussion also included questions regarding the terminology used in the draft ordinance, i.e. “solar facility” and “solar energy facility”. The full Architectural Review Board will discuss the issue further at their next meeting on July 26, 2022. 3. Adjournment - 2:50 pm  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 4. Exterior Elevation Applications Meeting Date: July 26, 2022 4A: ARB2022-011: 202 Washington Street (Replace Siding) Attachments: a. Exterior Elevation Application ARB2022-011 b. Supporting Materials Explanation and Summary: The Applicant is requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for replacing siding, including a color change. The Applicant has submitted an Exterior Elevation Application and supporting materials for consideration by the Architectural Review Board. Proposed/Suggested Motion(s): Motion to Approve as Presented: “I move to approve Exterior Elevation Application ARB2022-011 as presented.” Motion to Approve with Changes: “I move to approve Exterior Elevation Application ARB2022-011 with the following changes:__________, which are the minimum requirements necessary to prevent development that is obviously incongruous to the old and historic aspect of the surroundings.” Motion for Denial: “I move to deny Exterior Elevation Application ARB2022-011 due to: (state reasons, with specific reference to the record before the ARB and the applicable ordinance or guideline provision).” Recommend Deferment: “I move to make a finding that the application is incomplete due to (state missing elements) and defer action on this item to MEETING DATE.” OR Other action the Board deems appropriate. ARB 2022-011 ARB 2022-011 ARB 2022-011