An Appearance Board, often known as an Architectural Review Board (ARB) or Design Review Board (DRB), is a local government body tasked with regulating the aesthetic quality of development within a municipality. Established by local ordinance, these boards ensure that new construction, additions, or exterior alterations meet established community design standards. This regulatory function applies to commercial and residential projects, particularly in historic districts, and is common in many jurisdictions and homeowner associations.
Defining the Appearance Board
The Appearance Board functions as a quasi-judicial or advisory body, deriving its authority from a local government’s zoning code or comprehensive plan. Regardless of the specific name, the core function is regulating exterior design elements to maintain visual harmony and community character. Decisions are based on adopted, written design guidelines, not the subjective preferences of the members.
The scope of an Appearance Board is distinct from a Planning Commission, which typically focuses on broader land use, density, and infrastructure matters. Appearance Boards concentrate specifically on the aesthetic impact of a project, ensuring visual compatibility with the surrounding streetscape and neighborhood context. They operate under codified standards that guide the review of architectural details and site elements.
The Core Goals of Aesthetic Regulation
A primary objective is preserving neighborhood character, especially in historic areas or those with a unique architectural identity. By reviewing and approving exterior changes, the board maintains the integrity of the built environment and prevents designs that clash with existing structures or established development patterns.
The boards also promote harmonious development by ensuring the scale, massing, and materials of new construction are visually compatible with nearby properties. This focus on aesthetic consistency serves to protect property values across the community by mandating a high quality of design and discouraging haphazard or incongruous development. Achieving these goals supports community benefits, such as maintaining a desirable sense of place and supporting local economic activity like tourism.
What Appearance Boards Review
The board’s jurisdiction covers exterior visual elements affecting the public face of a property. Oversight extends to materials used on a building’s facade, including siding, roofing, masonry, and trim, ensuring they conform to the district’s established palette. They also review color palettes, which is relevant in historic districts where specific hues maintain a cohesive look.
The review process examines the building’s scale, massing, and bulk in relation to adjacent buildings and lot size. Furthermore, the board evaluates site elements such as landscaping plans, the design and height of fences and walls, and the placement of utility screening. Signage and exterior lighting plans are closely scrutinized for proper scale, illumination levels, and compatibility with the surrounding area. Boards frequently review plans for demolition or significant exterior alteration to existing structures.
The Application and Approval Process
The process for securing approval from an Appearance Board typically begins with the applicant submitting a formal package of plans, drawings, and material samples. Many jurisdictions encourage a pre-application meeting with planning staff to discuss the proposal and receive guidance on the applicable design guidelines before a formal submission. The staff then performs a technical review of the application for completeness and compliance with the local code.
Once deemed complete, the proposal is scheduled for a public hearing before the Appearance Board, where the applicant presents the project and the board members deliberate on the aesthetic merits. The board’s decision can result in an outright approval, a conditional approval requiring specific modifications, or a denial if the project does not meet the design standards. A successful review culminates in the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) or a similar required permit, which is necessary before a building permit can be obtained. An applicant who receives a denial typically has the right to appeal the decision to the local legislative body or a court of law.
Membership and Legal Basis
Appearance Boards are typically composed of volunteer citizens appointed by the local governing body, such as the City Council or Mayor. Members serve fixed terms and often include professionals with relevant design expertise, such as licensed architects, landscape architects, or individuals interested in historic preservation. The inclusion of design professionals ensures that the review of technical plans is informed and consistent with established principles of architecture and urban design.
The board’s power to regulate private property aesthetics is rooted in the municipality’s police power, which is the authority to enact laws for the promotion of public health, safety, and general welfare. This power is delegated through state enabling legislation, such as state planning laws, which permits them to establish aesthetic standards for the public benefit. Local ordinances then codify these standards and grant the Appearance Board the specific authority to enforce them.