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 January 23, 2024 | 7:30 p.m. 1. Call to Order 2. Citizen Comments 3. Election of Officers a. Nominations and the Election of Officers for Calendar Year 2024  Chairperson  Vice-Chairperson  Secretary 4. Approval of Minutes a. December 12, 2023 Meeting Minutes 5. Exterior Elevation Applications a. ARB2023-004 204 Ellicott Street (Porch Railings) b. ARB2024-001 209 Washington Street (Siding) 6. Reports a. Town Council Report b. Deputy Town Manager’s Report c. Planning Commission Report d. Chair Report 7. Adjournment Brenda Seefeldt Portions of this meeting may be held in closed session pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.  Chair, Architectural Review Board 2  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 3. Election of Officers Meeting Date: January 23, 2024 3A: Nominations and the Election of Officers for Calendar Year 2024 Attachments: a. N/A Submitted by: Philip Auville Town Clerk Explanation and Summary: This item is for the nomination and election of officers for the Architectural Review Board, pursuant to § 33.48 of the Town Code. Each year, at the January meeting, the ARB must select a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary, who serve for a 12-month terms of office and are eligible for re-election. Proposed/Suggested Motion: “I would like to nominate: [NAME] for [OFFICE].” Follow nomination and roll call process as outlined in Chair’s agenda. OR Other action the ARB deems appropriate.  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 4. Approval of Minutes Meeting Date: January 23, 2024 4A: Request to Approve December 12, 2023 Minutes Attachments: a. December 12, 2023 Meeting Minutes Submitted by: Philip Auville Town Clerk Explanation and Summary: This is a request to approve the meeting minutes from December 12, 2023. Proposed/Suggested Motion: “I move to approve the meeting minutes from December 12, 2023 as presented.” OR Other action the Architectural Review Board deems appropriate.  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MEETING MINUTES 12 December, 2023 In Atendance: Brenda Seefeldt, Darryl Hawkins, Jennifer Shown, Lisa Terry and Merial Currer Alternates: Mary Craig and Rick Fitzgerald Excused Absences: Carol Bailey 1. Call to Order- Brenda called the mee�ng to order at 7:345pm 2. Ci�zen’s Comments – None 3. Approval of Minutes 23 May 2023 and 22 August 2023 Minutes – Jennifer made a mo�on to approve. Lisa 2nd, approved. 4. Exterior Eleva�on Applica�ons A - ARB2023-004 204 Ellicot Street (Porch Railings) Applicant did not show up. 5. Discussion of Sign Code A. Mat Whitmoyer - discussed the current sign code and the enforcement process. 6. Reports A. Town Council Report - River Walk commitee is looking at the boardwalk and will direct ques�ons to ARB. B. Town Manager’s Report – 3 of the 4 new town signs have been installed. C. Planning Commission Report – Occoquan is a Trail Town and the planning commission is discussing was to improve walking, hiking and biking trails. D. Chair Report – Thanks for all our help.  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 5. Exterior Elevation Applications Meeting Date: January 23, 2024 5A: ARB2023-004 204 Ellicott Street Attachments: a. ARB2023-004 204 Ellicott Street (Porch Railings) Submitted by: Philip Auville Town Clerk Explanation and Summary: This is an Architectural Review Board (ARB) Exterior Elevation Application for the installation of new porch railings made of wood with smooth white vinyl covers at 204 Ellicott Street. Relevant Section of ARB Guidelines: The proposed work alters the railings of the existing porch and is therefore covered under Section 13 of the ARB Guidelines, which reads as follows: 13. Porches Porches are the welcoming hand to any structure, sometimes covered, sometimes not. Porches have played an important role in many Historic Districts, including Occoquan, and consist of many styles over the years. Historically porches were made of wood and/or masonry. Wood is still preferred in the Historic District but a realistic woodgrain look is acceptable. New or modified porches in the Historic District should reflect the styles and appearance of existing porches in the Historic District as to scale and aesthetics. When modifying a porch, the property owner must maintain or enlarge the existing dimensions of the porch and must match or retain the profiles of the porch’s elements (such as column bases, shafts and capitals, balusters, and ornamental millwork). Existing open-air front porches on primary elevations must not be enclosed. Any building with an existing primary- elevation porch should not have an additional porch created. For contributing structures, a ramp for ADA access should work with the existing porch rather than alter the features of the structure. Staff Recommendation: Make a determination based off the proposed work’s compliance with the ARB guidelines, including its congruence with the styles and appearances of neighboring porches in the Historic District. Proposed/Suggested Motion: “I move to approve ARB2023-004 204 Ellicott Street (Porch Railings) as is.” OR “I move to not approve ARB2023-004 204 Ellicott Street (Porch Railings).” OR Other action the Architectural Review Board deems appropriate. ARB2023-004 ARB2023-004  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 5. Exterior Elevation Applications Meeting Date: January 23, 2024 5B: ARB2024-001 209 Washington Street Attachments: a. ARB2024-001 209 Washington Street (Exterior Siding) Submitted by: Philip Auville Town Clerk Explanation and Summary: This is an Architectural Review Board (ARB) Exterior Elevation Application for the painting of the exterior siding to white and the window trims to green at 209 Washington Street. Relevant Section of ARB Guidelines: The proposed work alters the color of the existing siding and is therefore covered under Section 5 of the ARB Guidelines, which reads as follows: 5. Colors Exterior paint colors shall be appropriate for the architectural period of the building. Colors of a building shall take into consideration roof and foundation colors. It is encouraged that when rehabilitating Craftsman or Victorian style homes to use period- appropriate color pairings. In addition, for rehabilitation or replacement of windows, “earth tone” colors are appropriate. The book A Century of Color is an excellent reference. Another resource is the following color chart which is taken from the website Archive.org and the document “Every Man His Own Painter!” which was originally written in 1872. Note that none of these colors are modern paint chips. Use these colors as a guide as you pick out your exact paint colors. Most popular exterior paint brands now have historic palettes available. Painting of brick or stone is not recommended. Existing paint may be removed if done in a manner which will not damage the surface of the structure. Methods such as sandblasting, chemical application and heat guns tend to damage the structure. 22. Windows The placement and proportions of windows and doors are of paramount importance in achieving a historic reproduction. Most glass manufacturers 125 years ago did not have the capability to create large sheets of glass. That’s why old window sashes are comprised of a collection of smaller pieces of glass separated and held in place by muntin bars. Traditional windows have depth and a windowsill, as well as true divided lights or interior and exterior fixed muntin with internal spacers to reference traditional designs. No mirrored or tinted glass. The architecture style of Craftsman homes and Victorian homes often used colors for muntin and sashes. That is encouraged using the earth tone colors.  In new construction simulated true divided light windows in the appropriate style and color (earth tones) shall be used. Storm windows shall not be used unless the design allows the original window to show through. 18th Century Small panes; six over six window lights and up 1775-1800 arched at top, shutters Proportions – one-half the width of the height Placement – Lined up one above the other and over doorways Headers – Wood, solid beam; stone; brick; jack arches or segmented arches; lighter brick often used around windows 19th Century Windows in the early 19th Century were usually six over six. The emergence of styles such as neo-Gothic, Italianate and Queen Anne led the use of two over two, one over one, and in Queen Anne a multiplicity of combinations. By the end of the 19th Century, two over two dominated and this is the pattern most often seen in 19th Century houses in Occoquan Proportions – Usually, one-half width of height Headers – Elaborate, eyebrow, segmented and jack arches Staff Recommendation: Make a determination based off the proposed work’s compliance with the ARB guidelines, including its congruence with the styles and appearances of neighboring siding colors in the Historic District. Proposed/Suggested Motion: “I move to approve ARB2024-001 209 Washington Street (Exterior Siding) as is.” OR “I move to not approve ARB2024-001 209 Washington Street (Exterior Siding).” OR Other action the Architectural Review Board deems appropriate. ARB2024-001 209 Washington St ARB2024-001  Amendment submitted on behalf of applicant via phone on 1/16/24 - MW White N/A N/A N/A N/A Hunter Green All exterior windows Hunter Greene paint sample  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 6. Reports Meeting Date: January 23, 2024 6B: Deputy Town Manager’s Report Attachments: a. CY2023 Sign Violation Report Submitted by: Matt Whitmoyer Deputy Town Manager Explanation and Summary: This is the Deputy Town Manager’s monthly ARB report, including an initial sign violations report for calendar year (CY) 2023, at the request of the ARB. All subsequent reports will be on a monthly basis. The report includes the violation number, address, violation description and the status of the violation. All sign violations follow the code violation standard operating procedure (SOP), including a tiered notice system of informal notices progressing to formal notice of violation letters. Most violations are resolved at the informal tier and do not necessitate a formal notice of violation and subsequent legal action. Town of Occoquan Sign Violation Report CY2024 1/23/24 Violation Date of Title Type Address of ViolationObservation General Description of Violation Status More than 4 permanent signs, including 2 flags; Unpermitted permanent sign; More than 6 minor signs; Unpermitted temporary OZV-2023-01 Signage 302 Poplar Alley 2/28/2023 signs With Legal Three prohibited signs (two yard signs for commercial use and one banner used as a permanent sign); Sign greater than 16 sq ft (banner in OZV-2023-02 Signage 303 Commerce Street 2/28/2023 back); One portable sign (chalkboard) RESOLVED OZV-2023-03 Signage 202 Union Street 6/29/2023 Strings of flags, unpermitted banner RESOLVED Window signs greater than 25% of surface area; two unpermitted signs OZV-2023-09 Signage 202 Washington St 6/29/2023 and one over limit RESOLVED OZV-2023-04 Signage 304 Mill Street 6/29/2023 More than one unpermitted a-frame sign RESOLVED More permanent signs than allowable by code; no permitting for Town Hall OZV-2023-06 Signage 304 Mill Street 6/29/2023 allowed signage Processing OZV-2023-05 Signage 201 Union St 6/29/2023 More than one unpermitted a-frame sign RESOLVED OZV-2023-07 Signage 126A Commerce Street 7/10/2023 Sign still out over 60 days after close of business RESOLVED OZV-2023-08 Signage 202 Commerce Street 7/24/2023 Prohibited A-frame material; Over A-frame sign limit RESOLVED With Zoning OZV-2023-10 Signage 311 Mill Street 8/14/2023 Sign still installed more than 60 days after closing Admin OZV-2023-12 Signage 126 Mill Street 10/12/2023 Neon sign - prohibited; box sign - does not meet code RESOLVED unpermitted temporary sign on railing in HOD; prohibited sign - feather OZV-2023-13 Signage 203 Washington Street 10/12/2023 sign RESOLVED OZV-2023-14 Signage 303 Mill Street 10/12/2023 Prohibited electronically lit sign - electronic open sign RESOLVED