Design review standards

[Added 1-21-2004]

• 1. Pre-application meetings - concept plans.
  • a) One (1) or more pre-application meetings shall be held for all developments to be reviewed by the Design Review Board according to Articles VII and VIII of this ordinance. Pre-application meetings may be held upon request of either the Zoning Officer or the applicant. Pre-application meetings shall allow the applicant to meet with the Design Review Board for advice as to the pertinent Town plans, ordinances, regulations, rules and procedures and standards which may bear upon the design of the proposed development project.
  • b) The applicant may request the Design Review Board for an informal concept plan review for a development. Such meetings are encouraged. The purpose of the concept plan review is to provide Design Review Board input in the formative stages of a development concept design. (Note: a "concept plan" is not to be confused with a full application.)
  • c) Applicants seeking a pre-application meeting or an informal concept plan review shall submit materials at least two (2) weeks prior to meeting with the Board.
  • d) Pre-application meetings shall aim to encourage information sharing and discussion of project concepts. Pre-application discussions are intended for the guidance of the applicant and shall not be considered approval of a project or its elements. Any tentative approval or acceptance of a pre-application concept plan by the Design Review Board shall not be binding upon the Zoning Board of Review. Pre-application discussions are not to be considered as vesting of any sort in zoning or any other land use ordinances of the Town. The Board shall not be required to hold a public hearing on the pre-application concept plan filed.
  • e) Concept plan submittal contents.
    • (1) Plan drawn on sheet at a scale of one inch equals forty feet (1" = 40') and be thirty-two inches (32") long and twenty-two inches (22") wide on which shall be at least the following:
    • (2) A plot plan showing the entire area to be developed as well as any abutting land under control of the applicant or owner of the land shown on the plan, and all properties within five hundred feet (500') of proposed development.

      [Amended 10-10-2004]

      Note: "and all properties within 500 ft. of proposed development" adopted 10-10-2004.

    • (3) A title block including the name of the designer and engineer, the name of the development, owner and applicant if other than owner, the date and scale.
    • (4) Show location of all proposed vehicular and pedestrian interior ways.
    • (5) Show location of proposed parking.
    • (6) Show location of all proposed buildings (new and renovated) by type.
    • (7) Show location of retention/erosion control areas if necessary to meet drainage requirements.
    • (8) Show the proposed treatment of all open spaces.
    • (9) Show preliminary building elevations and exterior treatments.
    • (10) A one-page written description of the project.
• 2. Application submission requirements.
  • a) In addition to the submittals required in Article VII in this Ordinance, seven (7) full sets of building and site drawings including, but not limited to, building elevations, landscaping and planting plans, signage, etc., as set forth below, and shall, as a condition precedent to the granting of said special use permit, require full adherence to said plans without deviation at any later construction date. Said submissions shall be at the same size and scale as required in Article VII, and shall conform to the development standards set forth in the Design Review Guidelines, and shall contain the following:

    [Amended 1-21-2004]

  • b) Architectural Submittals. On a separate sheet(s), architectural submittals are required which shall include the following:
    • (1) Elevations, locations and dimensions of all wall openings, including windows, doors, and vents; for all sides of any proposed building or structure, including signs;
    • (2) Exterior lighting plans;
    • (3) Samples and/or descriptions and colors of all materials for proposed exterior treatments.
    • (4) Indication of roof pitch and materials.
    • (5) Location of and screening method used for all roof mounted mechanical equipment.
    • (6) Landscape plans. On a separate sheet(s), landscape plans are required which shall include the following:
      • (i) Location of existing trees and major shrubs that will be preserved. Proposed plantings and other landscape material, shown by type, size and number;
      • (ii) Provisions for pedestrian circulation;
      • (iii) Site furnishings, including location of and screen treatment for trash disposal and storage areas;
      • (iv) Location and appearance of all fences, walls, berms and other screening features; and
      • (v) Location, dimension, slopes, and landscaping treatment of all drainage facilities.
      • (vi) A written description of the project.
• 3. Design standards - purpose.
  • a) Architectural styles, design themes, and site details including signs, lighting, pedestrian furniture, planting and paving, along with building materials, colors, textures and grade shall be compatible within the overall site design and shall preserve and enhance the character of the surrounding area. These details should blend with their surroundings to create a diverse, yet unified, street composition.
  • b) Design Review Standards, which shall guide the recommendations of the Design Review Board, are contained in the publication entitled "Portsmouth Design Review Guidelines".

    Editor's Note: See Ch. 148, Design Review Guidelines.

  • c) While quality design is desirable everywhere, it is the intent of this ordinance that the Portsmouth Design Review Guidelines be more stringently applied in the Town Center District than in other zones in order to achieve the intent of the Town Center District per Article III.

    [Added 10-27-2004]

Editor's Note: See also Ch. 148, Design Review Guidelines. Note: Design Review along with a separate document entitled "Design Review Guidelines" was adopted on 1-21-2004. References to the Guidelines and the Design Review Board are contained in Articles VII, IX, and XI.