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Bethany Beach City Zoning Code

ARTICLE XXI

Nonresidential Design Review Committee

§ 425-113 Membership.

The Design Review Committee (DRC) shall be composed of five members as follows:
A. 
A registered architect/planner, appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Town Council, whose services shall be paid for by the Town.
B. 
The Town of Bethany Beach Building Inspector.
C. 
A member of the Town Council.
[Amended 5-20-2022 by Ord. No. 555]
D. 
A member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, appointed by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
E. 
A member of the business community appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Town Council.

§ 425-114 Terms of office.

Except for the Town Building Inspector and Town Council representative on the Planning and Zoning Commission,[1] the term of office on the DRC shall be two years. The Building Inspector and Town Council representative on the Planning and Zoning Commission shall serve for so long as they hold their respective positions. Any member having more than two unexcused absences in any twelve-month period shall be removed and replaced.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ordinance No. 527, adopted 11-18-2016, established the Planning and Zoning Commission. Pursuant to this ordinance, references throughout the Code to the “Planning Commission” have been revised to the “Planning and Zoning Commission.”

§ 425-115 Meetings.

A. 
DRC review meetings shall be held once a month. The agenda for each meeting shall be posted at the Town Hall, in five public places in the Town, and on the Town Web site at least two weeks prior to the meeting, provided that when there are no plans to review, the meeting may be canceled.
B. 
Five copies of all documents pertaining to a DRC review shall be provided to the DRC committee members via the Town Building Inspector, two weeks prior to the scheduled meeting. Failure of the applicant to make timely submission of such documents shall result in the matter being deferred until the next meeting.
C. 
All applications reviewed by the DRC shall be reviewed by the Architect/Planner and the Town Building Inspector, prior to approval, notwithstanding their inability to attend the review meeting with the applicant.

§ 425-116 Powers and duties. [1]

The powers and duties of the DRC shall be as set forth in greater detail in the Bethany Beach Commercial District Design Guidelines.
[1]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

§ 425-117 Decisions.

A written decision to approve or deny the applicant's plan(s) shall be provided to the applicant within 30 business days of the review. In the event the DRC denies approval, the DRC shall specify those details of the plan(s) that fail to meet the Design Guidelines and suggest alternatives that will render the plan(s) compliant.

§ 425-118 Requests for reconsideration; appeals.

Requests for reconsideration; appeals. An applicant may amend its plan(s) to address the discrepancies identified by the DRC and request reconsideration of its amended plans, or appeal the decision, as appropriate, to the Town Council, or, if zoning issues are involved, to the Board of Adjustment.