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 August 27, 2024 | 7:30 p.m. 1. Call to Order 2. Citizen Comments 3. Approval of Minutes a. July 23, 2024 Meeting Minutes 4. Exterior Elevation Applications a. ARB2024-003 402 Mill Street (Sculpture) 5. Reports a. Town Council Report b. Deputy Town Manager’s Report c. Planning Commission Report d. Chair Report 6. Discussion Items a. Decoration Discussion 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 Agenda Communication 3. Approval of Minutes Meeting Date: August 27, 2024 3A: Request to Approve July 23, 2024 Minutes Attachments: a. July 23, 2024 Minutes Submitted by: Philip Auville Town Clerk Explanation and Summary: This is a request to approve the meeting minutes from July 23, 2024. Proposed/Suggested Motion: “I move to approve the meeting minutes from July 23, 2024 as presented.” OR Other action the Architectural Review Board deems appropriate.  Town of Occoquan ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MEETING MINUTES July 23, 2024 In Attendance: Brenda Seefeldt, Darryl Hawkins, Theo Daubresse, Lisa Terry, Mary Craig; Alternate Jennifer Shown; Excused Tardy: Rick Fitzgerald 1. Call to Order - Brenda called the meeting to order at 7:39 p.m. Note: The ARB Meeting started late because the Planning Commission exceeded its allotted time. Brenda announced the resignation of Merial Currer, who is also secretary. Jennifer Shown offered to step in and take minutes. 2. Citizen’s Comments - None 3. Approval of Minutes - Brenda made a motion to approve the Meeting Minutes of May 28, 2024; Mary 2nd approved. The motion was approved unanimously. 4. Exterior Elevation Applications - ARB2024-003 - 402 Mill Street (Sculpture) - After discussing, Brenda made a motion to defer ARB2024-003 402 Mill Street again until the ARB finalizes guidelines for art in the Historic District. Lisa 2nd approved. The motion was approved unanimously. 5. Reports a. Town Council Report – Theo Daubresse noted there will be a new sign to rename Occoquan Island for the naming of the island contest. b. Town Manager’s Report - Matt Whitmoyer, the Deputy Town Manager, mentioned that Carol Bailey was honored with a town proclamation for her volunteer work which included the Architectural Review Board (ARB). Matt also mentioned that the town is making storm water pipe improvements, by replacing the defective pipes. For the July Violations Report, he stated there were no new items; he was in the process of resolving the old items. c. Planning Commission Report – Darryl Hawkins stated that the Planning Commission had discussed the town density and the pros and cons in relation to zoning. d. Chair Report – None 6. Discussion Items - Draft Amendments to ARB Design Guidelines Relating to Public Art Adam Linn, the Town Manager, Matt Whitmoyer, Assistant Tow Manager, Brenda Seefeldt, and Theo Daubresse had a meeting to discuss art in the historic district. Brenda asked Matt to give the overview of the new design guidelines Some of the guidelines include the following: it cannot block or damage the historical fixtures, must be non-invasive, must be relevant to the historical district, and cannot contain any advertising since it would then be considered as signage. There was no discussion. Brenda made a motion to recommend the new ARB design guidelines to the Town Council. Mary 2nd approved. The motion was approved unanimously. e. Adjournment – 7:52 pm  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 4. Exterior Elevation Applications Meeting Date: August 27, 2024 4A: ARB2024-003 402 Mill Street Attachments: a. ARB2024-003 402 Mill Street (Sculpture) Submitted by: Philip Auville Town Clerk Explanation and Summary: This is an Architectural Review Board (ARB) Exterior Elevation Application for a sculpture of a dragon at 402 Mill Street. Relevant Sections of ARB Guidelines: Section 15 of the ARB Guidelines, which reads as follows: 15. Public Art Public art includes artistic structures and murals erected on properties in the Historic District for non-commercial purposes. Scale – For murals, the size must not exceed 30% of the principal building’s exterior wall surface area, ensuring it remains in scale with the building's architecture and does not overwhelm the structure. For artistic structures, the structure's height must not exceed 50% of the height of the principal building, and its footprint should be no larger than 10% of the total lot area, ensuring it is proportionate to the building and site. Placement – No public art should be placed in a manner that obscures or distorts the architectural features of a principal building. Murals must be placed on secondary façades, avoiding primary or street-facing elevations, to minimize the visual impact on the building’s historical character. Murals must be applied to surfaces that are not historically significant or have already been altered, such as previoysly painted surfaces, modern extensions or non-original walls, to preserve the integrity of historic materials. Alternatively, murals can be installed on removable materials attached to the wall. When possible, artistic structures should be placed in rear or side yards, avoiding placement in front of or directly attached to historic façades, to reduce their impact on the historic streetscape. Artistic structures should be freestanding or attached to modern extensions where possible. Reversability – Installation methods must be non-invasive, such as using removable paint or surface-mounted panels, avoiding any damage or permanent alterations to the original historic materials or features. An artistic structure should be easily removable without causing damage to the property. Contextual Relevance – The public art must have colors (see Colors) and materials appropriate to the architectural period of the principal building. Styles and themes should be from the period of significance. Public art must not contain information advertising goods or services provided by a business, whether located on the parcel on which the public art appears or elsewhere. Such installations are subject to the Town’s Sign Ordinance, § 157.300 and interested applicants are advised to follow that process. Only one structure and one mural are permitted per property in the Historic District to maintain the district's historical integrity and prevent visual clutter. Relevant Sections of the Town Code: Section 157.179, “Matters to be Considered by the Board”, which read as follows: (A) “The board shall not consider interior arrangement, relative size of the building or structure, detailed design, or features not subject to any public view. The Board shall not make any requirements, except for the purpose of preventing developments obviously incongruous to the old and historic aspect of the surroundings. (B) The board shall consider the following in passing upon the appropriateness of architectural features: (1) Exterior architectural features, including all signs, that are subject to public view from a public street, way or place; (2) General design and arrangement; (3) Texture, material and color;  (4) The relation of the factors, (B)(1)through(B) (3) above, to similar features of the buildings and structures in the immediate surroundings; (5) The extent to which the building or structure would be in harmony with the old and historic aspect of the surroundings; (6) In the case of a building to be razed, a primary consideration will be the extent to which its continued existence would tend to protect irreplaceable historic places and preserve the general historic atmosphere of the town; and (7) The extent to which the building or structure will promote the general welfare by: (a) Preserving and protecting historic places and areas; (b)Maintaining and increasing real estate value; (c)Generating business; (d) Creating new positions; (e) Attracting tourists, students, writers, historians, artists and artisans, and new residents; (f) Encouraging study of and interest in American history; (g) Stimulating interest in and study of architecture and design; (h) Educating citizens in American culture and heritage; and (i) Making the town a more attractive and desirable place in which to live. Staff Recommendation: Make a determination based off the proposed work’s compliance with the ARB guidelines and the review criteria set forth within Town Code §157.179 (B). Any denial of an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness must include the reason for denial and a reference to the relevant ARB guideline(s). Proposed/Suggested Motion: “I move to approve ARB2024-003 402 Mill Street (Sculpture) as is.” OR “I move to not approve ARB2024-003 402 Mill Street (Sculpture) for the following reason: _______________________.” OR Other action the Architectural Review Board deems appropriate.  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 5. Reports Meeting Date: August 27, 2024 5B: Deputy Town Manager’s Report Attachments: a. August Sign and COA Violation Report Submitted by: Matt Whitmoyer Deputy Town Manager Explanation and Summary: This is the Deputy Town Manager’s monthly ARB report. The report includes both sign and COA violations, showing the violation number, address, violation description and the status of the violation. All code 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 and COA Violation Report August 2024 8/27/24 Violation Date of Title Type Address of Violation Observation General Description of Violation Status OCV-2024- Town Hall 004 (In Part) COA 402 Mill Street 4/4/2024 Structure (dragon sculpture) erected in HOD without COA Processing Window signs occupying more than 25% of area; internally lit OCV-2024- signage; three temporary signs (materials and no permanent Town Hall 008 Signage 201 Union Street 4/16/2024 attachment); box sign larger than 4.5 sqft Processing  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 6. Discussion Items Meeting Date: August 27, 2024 6A: Decoration Discussion Attachments: a. Quick Signage Guide b. Decoration Image Submitted by: Philip Auville Town Clerk Explanation and Summary: This is a discussion item to review decorations in the Old and Historic Occoquan District. Town of Occoquan Signage in Occoquan A Quick Signage Guide for Businesses & Property Owners in the Historic District Town of Occoquan An Overview of the Guide The Town of Occoquan created this quick signage guide to provide an overview on proper signage practices to business owners and property owners within the Historic District. The information provided in this guide is not all inclusive and is intended to provide answers to frequently asked questions on signage in the Historic District. For a complete account of all signage regulations throughout the entire town, please refer to Town Code Section 157.300. Don't see your questions? Contact the Town Clerk at townclerk@occoquanva.gov or call 703-491-1918. Town of Occoquan Table of Contents 1 What are the types of signs? And how many of each can I have? An overview of the various types of signs as well as the allowed amounts 2 What are A-frame signs? And how can I use them? An overview of FAQs related to A-frames 3 When is a permit required? An overview of conditions that would require a permit as well as those that would not 4 Where can I place my signs? An overview and visuals on proper sign placement 5 What is prohibited? A list and visuals of the main prohibited signs 6 How about...? An overview of other signage FAQs 7 How do I get a permit? An overview of the sign permit application process 8 The Sign Table A matrix of sign regulations by sign type Town of Occoquan What are the types of signs? And how many of each can I have? Sign Type Number of Signs Permanent 4 maximum (mix of permitted and These signs include your typical main business sign unpermitted depending on signage) as well as other signs like menu boxes, window Flags do not require a permit, but do signs, wall signs, and freestanding signs larger count toward the total permanent sign than 1 sq ft but no more than 16 sq ft. count Minor These signs include any kind of sign that is no more 4 maximum without a permit than 1 sq ft. These could be papers or decals 2 additional with a permit placed in windows and any other small signs communicating to the public about the goods and services that the business provides. Town of Occoquan What are the types of signs? And how many of each can I have? Sign Type Number of Signs Temporary These signs include banners and portable signs and are no more than 16 sq ft and not permanently 1 with a permit attached to the ground or any structure. 2 times per calendar year for 20 consecutive days each time Banners must be temporarily attached to a principal structure or sign pole. They are made of canvas, vinyl, or any other lightweight material not suited for permanent use. Town of Occoquan Sign Type Examples Permanent Minor Flags Minor window sign Under 1 sq ft in area Not occupying more than 25% of the area of the door window Not obstructing any architectural Pole mounted/freestanding sign features Pole Mounted Not obstructing any architectural No permit required Not obstructing any architectural features Less than 16 sq ft features Not mounted in pubic right-of-way Less than 16 sq ft Permit required Counts as one of the four allowable permanent signs No permit required Town of Occoquan What are A-frame signs? And how can I use them? Definition An A-frame is a special type of temporary sign that consists of a two-faced chalkboard sign with supports that are connected at the top and separated at the base, forming an "A" shape. Size A-frames can be up to 16 square feet or less in size. No Permit Required But No Attachments Either A-frames do not require a permit. However, other signs, such as pieces of paper or pennants, cannot be attached to them. Placement A-frames can be placed in front of the business that owns them and can be placed temporarily in the sidewalk in front of their business as long as it (1) does not impact pedestrian or vehicular traffic and (2) is removed from the sidewalk when the business is closed. A-Frames cannot be placed beyond the business' storefront as this would be considered off-site signage and is prohibited within the town. Town of Occoquan When do I need or not need a permit? Permit Required No Permit Required Permanent signs (not including window signs, box signs, 4 or less minor signs and flags) A-frame signs More than 4 minor signs (up to two additional minor Windows signs, not collectively covering more than 25% signs may be permitted) of the window* Temporary signs (i.e. banners); up to two times per Box signs* calendar year and up to 20 consecutive days for each Strings or tubing of white light (multiple colors allowed instance from October 15 through February 15) Any other sign not included in the No Permit list Flags* Replacement/repair of existing sign with same materials, design and location *While no permits are required for these signs, they count towards the 4 permanent sign limit per business Town of Occoquan Where can I place my signs? Is this location prohibited? Good sign placement starts with knowing where the Town prohibits signs based on their placement. When in doubt, other than temporary A-Frames, signs cannot be placed on a public sidewalk, street, vegetation, or utility poles. Refer to the "What is Prohibited?" section of this guide for information on sign placement prohibitions. Does the sign have to follow ARB guidelines? Within the historic district, all permitted signs are required to follow ARB guidelines, including on materials, colors, and location. In general, signs, temporary or permanent, can not obscure architectural features such as windows, doors, railings and other historic accents. For example, the banner to the right is prohibited because it blocks the railing. Town of Occoquan Where can I place my signs? For Permanent and Minor Signs Surfaces Permanent and minor signs can be placed on your property via any of the following exteriors: Walls Doors A freestanding structure (such as a pole sign) Hanging sign brackets Windows (cannot block more than 25% of the window's square footage) Door windows (cannot block more than 25% of the window's square footage) Freestanding Signs Flags Freestanding signs cannot be mounted in a Flags must be pole mounted or attached to an public right-of-way and must have at least 7 feet existing principal structure. They cannot be placed of vertical clearance, if they hang over any in a public right-of-way. sidewalk. Town of Occoquan What is prohibited? Prohibited Based on Materials Neon signs (i.e. Open Signs that are internally lit - LED, neon, or other internal lighting mechanism) Internally lit signs (except marquees and box signs) Inflatable signs Animated or flashing signs Signs painted directly on a building, driveway, or road (except a singular minor wall sign) Feather signs Signs that emit sounds Banners without a permit Multi-colored lights outside the period of October 15 through February 15 For the full list of prohibited signage, please see § 157.304 of the Town Code Town of Occoquan What is prohibited? Prohibited Based on Location Prohibited Based on Number Off-site or Off-premises signs More than 4 permanent signs (including flags and non- Signs on the roof surface or extending above the minor window signs) roofline or parapet wall of the building More than 4 unpermitted minor signs Signs attached to natural vegetation (i.e. no signs on More than 6 minor signs total trees) Commercial signs as yard signs For the full list of prohibited signage, please see § 157.304 of the Town Code Town of Occoquan What about...? ...open signs? Internally lit or neon signs, including "Open" signs, are prohibited. However, non-neon open signs, like paper and vinyl, could be allowed. If under 1 sq ft, they could count as one of a business's minor window signs, as detailed above. ...the overall look of my sign? All permitted signs must follow ARB guidelines, using colors appropriate to the architectural period of the building. Thus, chosen colors must be compatible with ARB color palettes and, for banners, no more than four colors can be used. More information on ARB guidelines and color palettes can be found at: www.occoquanva.gov/architectural-review-board/ Town of Occoquan How do I get a permit? Standard Sign Application Temporary Banner Application Use the information in this guide and the Town Code to Complete the Application for a Temporary Banner on determine whether your sign is a permanent sign in the Town website and submit it to the Town at Town need of a permit or not Hall or by e-mail (townclerk@occoquanva.gov) If a permit is required, fill out the Sign Application on Please include a photo of the location of the temporary the Town website and include the following: banner and a color mock up of the proposed banner, a mock up in color of the sign, including sign including dimensions and color codes dimensions and color codes, showing compliance with ARB guidelines a photo of the proposed location of the sign, Approval showing 7' clearance above right of way (if applicable) Town staff will promptly process your sign permit application and either approve it, reject it (with reasons Submit your completed application to Town Hall and for given decision), or notify you of deficiencies in the pay the nonrefundable permit fee application within 20 business days  Business District Signage General Rules Permanent-Box, Freestanding, Type Temporary Flags Minor Waterfront Marquee Monument, Pole, Projecting, and Wall Duration Unlimited 20 days Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited As required by Backlit, internally or Illumination Indirect None None Indirect law indirectly Wall, window sign, Wall, window sign, Wall, window sign, See See SUP Location freestanding or affixed to freestanding or affixed to freestanding or affixed to § 157.303(D) § 157.303(B) req. mailbox mailbox mailbox 4 4 signs total without a Maximum 4 Unlimited Unlimited** (with no permit; up to 2 additional 1 number (with no flags)* up to maximum size signs)* with a permit Maximum 6 ft 6 ft 15 ft 6 ft Height of building Height of building height See See Setback None None None None § 157.303(D) § 157.303(B) 16 sq ft total for Total: 16 sq ft (except box signs, commercial use property; 8 2 sq ft/linear foot of Size which are limited to 4.5 sq sq ft total for residential 16 sq ft 1 sq ft total building riverfront width, SUP req. (each) ft by definition) use divided into as many signs property as occupant wishes Special Use Permit (SUP) No No No No No Yes Required * Maximum number is a combination of signs and flags. There shall be no more than four signs and/or flags on any one property at a given time ** Commercial signs are not permitted as yard signs in business districts