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 September 24, 2024 | 7:30 p.m. 1. Call to Order 2. Citizen Comments 3. Approval of Minutes a. August 27, 2024 Meeting Minutes 4. Exterior Elevation Applications a. ARB2024-004 312 Commerce Street (Greenhouse) 5. Reports a. Town Council Report b. Deputy Town Manager’s Report c. Planning Commission Report d. Chair Report 6. Discussion Items a. Appointment of New Members b. Proposed Sign Code Amendment 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: September 24, 2024 3A: Request to Approve August 27, 2024 Minutes Attachments: a. August 27, 2024 Minutes Submitted by: Philip Auville Town Clerk Explanation and Summary: This is a request to approve the meeting minutes from August 27, 2024. Proposed/Suggested Motion: “I move to approve the meeting minutes from August 27, 2024 as presented.” OR Other action the Architectural Review Board deems appropriate.  Town of Occoquan ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MEETING MINUTES August 27, 2024 In Attendance: Brenda Seefeldt, Darryl Hawkins, Theo Daubresse, Lisa Terry, Mary Craig, Rick Fitzgerald 1. Call to Order - Brenda Seefeldt called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. 2. Citizen’s Comments - None 3. Approval of Minutes—Mary Craig made a motion to approve the Meeting Minutes of July 23, 2024; Theo Daubresse seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. 4. Exterior Elevation Applications—ARB2024-003 - 402 Mill Street (Sculpture) — The applicant was a no-show. It is the practice of the ARB for an applicant to be present with the application. Discussion was had about voting on the application even with this absence since we asked all of our questions at the original review of the application, June 2024 meeting. It was decided to vote on the application. Darryl Hawkins made a motion to pass the Certificate of Appropriateness for Exterior Elevation of the Dragon. Mary Craig seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. 5. Reports a. Town Council Report – Theo Daubresse noted the Draft Amendments to ARB Guidelines Relating to Public Art have been made through the Town Council’s discussion and approval process. b. Town Manager’s Report – The Deputy Town Manager Matt Whitmoyer. Provided an update on the signage cases and on the written language changes in regulations as provided by the Town Attorney. Matt also noted there is a need for volunteers for the upcoming Fall Arts and Crafts Show, September 28 -29, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. c. Planning Commission Report – Darryl Hawkins stated that the Planning Commission meets next on September 24, 2024 d. Chair Report –. Brenda announced she would not attend the September meeting. 6. Discussion Items  a. Decoration Discussion – Brenda brought to the ARB’s attention a question regarding a lack of prohibitions on plastic foil fringe strips or garlands, aka pennant strips or banners. New written language to coincide with Town of Occoquan Ordinance § 157.304 PROHIBITED SIGNS(A)(8) will be prepared for review and consideration. 7. Adjournment – 8:00 pm  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 4. Exterior Elevation Applications Meeting Date: September 24, 2024 4A: ARB2024-004 312 Commerce Street Attachments: a. ARB2024-004 312 Commerce Street (Greenhouse) Submitted by: Philip Auville Town Clerk Explanation and Summary: This is an Architectural Review Board (ARB) Exterior Elevation Application for a greenhouse at 312 Commerce Street. Relevant Sections of ARB Guidelines: The Design Guidelines do not explicitly address greenhouses; however, the guidelines on additions may be a helpful reference for assessing the appropriateness of a small structure like a greenhouse. Section 2 of the ARB Guidelines reads as follows: 2. Additions An exterior addition to a historic building is acceptable with three suggestions strongly recommended: a) Locating the addition so as not to be conspicuous. b) Limiting the size and scale of the addition in order not to compromise the integrity of the building or any structures surrounding it. c) Using materials compatible with the historic building and the other buildings nearby. 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 ARB2024-004 312 Commerce Street (Greenhouse) as is.” OR “I move to not approve ARB2024-004 312 Commerce Street (Greenhouse) for the following reason: _______________________.” OR Other action the Architectural Review Board deems appropriate.  ARB2024-004 9/13/2024 ARB2024-004 312 Commerce St ARB2024-004  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 5. Reports Meeting Date: September 24, 2024 5B: Deputy Town Manager’s Report Attachments: a. September 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 September 2024 9/24/24 Violation Date of Title Type Address of Violation Observation General Description of Violation Status OCV-2024- 004 (In Part) COA 402 Mill Street 4/4/2024 Structure (dragon sculpture) erected in HOD without COA RESOLVED 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: September 24, 2024 6A: Appointment of New Members Attachments: a. None Submitted by: Philip Auville Town Clerk Explanation and Summary: This is a discussion item to discuss adding two new members to the Board, one alternate and one business representative. This year, members Merial Currer and Carol Bailey resigned from the Board. Currently, the Board has seven (7) members and, per Town Code § 33.46, is required to have nine (9) members, leaving two (2) vacancies. Per § 33.47 of the Town Code, ARB Members are appointed by the Town Council and the Board may recommend candidates. Since early August 2024, Town staff has been actively advertising the opening in the Town newsletter and has posted on the Town website but is yet to receive any applications. Relevant Sections of the Town Code: § 33.46 MEMBERSHIP. The Architectural Review Board (ARB) shall consist of nine members, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Town Council, of whom seven shall be appointed as regular members and two as alternate members to vote in the absence of any regular member. A quorum shall be four members. One regular member shall be a member of the Town Council, one regular member shall be a member of the Planning Commission, and one regular member may be a business owner in the town who shall be designated as the business representative. The business representative shall act as a liaison between town businesses and the ARB. Other members shall be appointed primarily on the basis of a knowledge and demonstrated interest in the historical heritage and architecture of the town. All members shall be residents of the town, except the business representative, who need not be a resident but shall be: a business owner in the town; and licensed and operating his or her business in accordance with all applicable laws and ordinances. All candidates for ARB membership (other than the Council member and Planning Commission member) shall submit a written application to the Town Council. § 33.47 TERM OF OFFICE; REMOVAL; VACANCIES. Members of the Architectural Review Board shall be appointed to hold office for a four year term running concurrent to the term of office of the Town Council. Upon notice that the business representative no longer owns a business in the town, the Town Council may remove that person from the Board. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term and shall be done within 60 days. Members may be reappointed to succeed themselves. Recommendations to fill vacancies may be made by the Board to the Mayor and approved by the Town Council. Staff Request: Assist in recruiting an alternate and a business representative to the ARB for recommendation to Town Council.  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 6. Discussion Items Meeting Date: September 24, 2024 6B: Proposed Sign Code Amendment Attachments: a. Draft Language Submitted by: Philip Auville Town Clerk Explanation and Summary: This is a discussion item to discuss draft sign code amendment language relating to fringe-style decorations. At the August 27, 2024 meeting, the Board discussed the appropriateness of fringe-style decorations, such as fringe streamers. Pursuant to that conversation, the Chair has drafted the attached language for a potential zoning text amendment to the sign code. Concurrently, Town staff is performing a title by title review of the Town Code and anticipates a review and set of amendments to the Town’s Land Usage Title, which includes the zoning and sign codes, to begin in 2025. Staff Request: Review the draft language and determine if tabling action on the amendment to coincide with the staff code review in 2025 is acceptable to the Board.  TOWN OF OCCOQUAN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD Agenda Communication 6. Discussion Items Meeting Date: September 24, 2024 6B: Proposed Sign Code Amendment Draft Language What the town code currently says: 157.304 (8) - Strings of flags (two or more connected together) visible from, and within 50 feet of, any public right-of-way Proposed change: Strings of flags (two or more connected together), pennant banners, fringe streamers, stringed decorations visible from, and within 50 feet of, any public right-of-way.