The intent of this section is to guide new construction, rehabilitation/renovation of existing buildings to achieve compatibility between buildings and infrastructure and the preservation of contributing buildings.

1.

Plans required: design review and certificate of compliance.

a.

Applicability: No permit or license shall be issued within the Griffin Overlay District until the applicant for such a permit or license has submitted an application for design review, certificate of compliance, to the Planning and Services Development Department that meets all requirements of this ordinance and such application has been approved.

b.

Reviews. Prior to the issuance of any land-disturbance permit, building permit, or sign permit, the applicant shall submit a conceptual design package and final design package to the planning and development services director. The plans will be forwarded to the downtown development authority for review and comment as well as the historic preservation commission, as applicable. The final design package must include full architectural and landscape architectural plans and specifications.

c.

Conceptual plan package review.If the conceptual design package is deemed compliant and complete with no revisions required, it will be considered the Final Design Package. For parcels located outside the original Overlay boundary within Downtown Griffin, rezoning application packets shall also include conceptual site plans as described below. The conceptual plan package shall be composed of the following:

i.

Site Plan: Seven copies of a site plan drawn to a designated scale of not less than one inch equals one hundred feet, certified by a professional engineer or land surveyor licensed by the state, presented on a sheet having a maximum size of twenty-four inches by thirty-six inches, and one eight-and-one-half-inch by eleven-inch reduction of the plan. If presented on more than one sheet, match lines shall clearly indicate where the several sheets join. Such plan shall contain the following information:

a.

Boundaries of the entire property proposed to be included in the development, with bearings and distances of the perimeter property lines;

b.

Scale and north arrow, with north, to the extent feasible, oriented to the top of the site plan and on all supporting graphics;

c.

Location, size and dimensions in length and width of all landscaped areas, transitional buffers, and open space;

d.

Existing topography with a maximum contour interval of five (5) feet and a statement indicating whether it is an air survey or field run;

e.

Delineation of any floodplain designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Geological Survey, City of Griffin or Spalding County;

f.

The delineation of any jurisdictional wetlands as defined by ordinance 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act;

g.

Delineation of any significant historic or archeological feature, grave, object or structure marking a place of burial if known, and a statement indicating how the proposed development will impact it;

h.

Delineation of all existing structures and whether they will be retained or demolished;

i.

Location of all proposed uses, lots, buildings, building types and building entrances;

j.

Height and setback of all buildings and structures;

k.

Areas, lot sizes and development density for each type of proposed use;

l.

Lot coverage percentages;

m.

Open space percentages;

n.

Location, size, and number of all on-street and off-street parking spaces, including a shared parking analysis, if shared parking is proposed;

o.

Identification of site access points and layout, width of right-of-way and paved ordinances of all internal streets;

p.

Conceptual plans for drainage with approximate location and estimated size of all proposed stormwater management facilities and a statement as to the type of facility proposed;

q.

Areas to be held in joint ownership, common ownership, or common control;

r.

Location of proposed sidewalks and bicycle facilities trails, recreation areas, parks, and other public or community uses, facilities, or structures on the site;

s.

Conceptual layout of utilities and location of all existing or proposed utility easements having a width of ten feet or more;

t.

Standard details of signs, sidewalks, streetlights, driveways, medians, curbs and gutters, landscaped areas, fencing, street furniture, bicycle lanes, streets, alleys, and other details demonstrating compliance with the Griffin Overlay District regulations;

u.

Seal and signature of professional preparing the plan;

v.

Photos of all surrounding properties including those across the street;

w.

If in the historic district or a contributing building: Note what type of architectural approach and style will be taken.

ii.

Building Plan: Seven copies of conceptual building designs including elevation drawings drawn to a designated scale of not less than one-sixteenth inch equals one foot showing architectural details of proposed buildings, exterior materials, all of which demonstrate that the proposed design is in compliance with the requirements of the Griffin Overlay District regulations. Drawings shall be presented on a sheet having a maximum size of twenty-four inches by thirty-six inches, and one eight-and-one-half-inch by eleven-inch reduction of each sheet. If presented on more than one sheet, match lines shall clearly indicate where the several sheets join.

iii.

Written Statement: A written statement explaining how the proposed development will meet the standards of this ordinance. The written statement shall also include information describing the number of acres contained in the development; the number of dwelling units by type; the gross residential density; the area (in square feet) of any commercial uses; the common open space acreage; the anticipated number, type, and size of other public amenities; and the proposed legal mechanism for protecting and maintaining common open space, if applicable.

iv.

Multimodal Access: A multimodal access plan for projects over 0.5 acre, prepared at a scale not greater than one inch equals one hundred feet, to demonstrate a unified plan of continuous access to and between all structures in the proposed development and adjacent properties where connections are appropriate. The multimodal access plan shall cover the entire proposed development along with public rights-of-way of adjoining streets and any other property lying between the subject property and any primary or secondary streets. Safe and convenient pedestrian pathways shall be provided from sidewalks along streets to each structure entrance, including pedestrian access routes across parking lots and between adjacent buildings within the same development.

v.

Demolition Requests: In any case involving the demolition or partial demolition of a structure in the overlay district, before granting approval, the planning and development services director must determine whether the building is contributing or non-contributing and may call on the building official to provide them with a report on the state of repair and structural stability of the structure under consideration. The staff shall, in making such judgments, consider the results of any available historic properties and structures surveys or shall otherwise attempt to discern the structure's historic importance and whether or not the structure is considered contributing as defined by this ordinance. If a contributing structure, the applicant must provide a structural conditions report or letter produced by a licensed building inspector or engineer.

vi.

Public Art Plan: Seven copies of a Public Art Project Plan (new construction or substantial rehabilitation only) which shall include:

a.

The required art investment, budget detailing applicable costs: artist's fees and expenses, costs for fabrication; installation, site preparation, structures to display artwork, plaque, and administrative costs; as outlined in Section 722 Q., Public Art;

b.

The artists being considered and the type of professional artist needed for this project;

c.

Name of professional artist;

d.

Developer goals for the project;

e.

Concepts and ideas for the art project;

f.

Location and visibility of proposed artwork;

g.

Narrative description of proposed artwork;

h.

Agreement between the developer and artist(s);

i.

Scale site plan and landscape plan (for art location);

j.

Scale drawing or model; and

k.

Perspective view showing the proposed artwork in the development context.

Staff shall review the public art plan based on the following criteria:

a.

Is the selected artwork produced by a professional artist? The staff will review such items as the person's educational background in the arts, arts accomplishments within the past five years such as gallery or museum exhibits, and the person's recognition by accepted arts organizations as an artist. The artist should be a practitioner in the visual arts, generally recognized by his or her critics and peers as a professional possessing serious artistic intent and ability;

b.

Are the budget items and total amount acceptable to meet the minimum art investment for the development proposed?;

c.

The staff will review the artwork plans and its placement in regard to the public visibility and enjoyment of the artwork; and

d.

The content of the artwork is developer-selected; however, the staff will be interested in the durability, safety, placement and visibility of the exterior art project.

d.

Final design package review and approval process.

i.

Upon receiving comments on the conceptual plan package, the applicant will submit the final design package for review and approval unless exempted under 722.B.1.c. The final design package must include full architectural, site and landscape plans and specifications. The submitted plans must include:

a.

Site plan;

b.

Architectural elevations;

c.

Renderings depicting the building design including elevations and architectural details of proposed buildings;

d.

Exterior materials and colors;

e.

Plans and elevations of all hardscape, landscape and signage, all of which shall demonstrate that the proposed design is in compliance with all requirements of this Griffin Overlay District and the underlying zoning classification.

ii.

The applicant may submit the final design package simultaneously with the submission for permitting.

iii.

Certificate of Compliance.

a.

Approval: The planning and development services director or designee shall review each application for compliance with all requirements of the Griffin Overlay District and the underlying zoning classification. Where the planning and development services director determines that said plans comply with the requirements of the Griffin Overlay District a certificate of compliance shall be issued in the form of the planning and development services director signing the plans and drawings after which the applicant is approved for land disturbance, building or signs permits.

b.

Denial: Where the planning and development services director determines that said plans do not comply with the requirements of this ordinance, then the planning and development services director shall notify the applicant in writing stating the manner in which said applicant fails to comply with such requirements. All applications shall be considered and decided within thirty (30) days of receipt of a complete application.

c.

Appeal: Any appeal of the planning and development services director's decision in this regard shall be addressed to the board of commissioners.