The city council shall create a board of architectural review to review proposals within architectural review districts.

The board of architectural review shall consist of five (5) members, to be appointed by the city council for terms of four (4) years. Prospective board of architectural review members shall be nominated by a city council member and approved by a majority vote of those city council members present and voting. All board of architectural review members must be legal residents or own a business inside of the city limits with a valid business license of the City of Pickens and shall not hold any other elected or appointed public office in Pickens County. Board of architectural review members shall serve no more than two (2) successive full terms. Any board of architectural review member whose term has expired shall continue to serve until a replacement shall have been appointed by the city council.

The city council shall make its initial appointment of board of architectural review members within ninety (90) days of the adoption of this chapter. For the initial appointment, two (2) members shall serve for terms of four (4) years, two (2) members shall serve for terms of three (3) years, and one (1) member shall serve for a term of two (2) years. It shall be at the determination of the mayor as to which initial terms board of architectural review members are assigned.

The officers of the board shall be a chairman and vice chairman elected for one year terms at the first meeting of the commission in each calendar year. The board shall appoint a member of the staff as secretary of the commission.

The chairman shall be a voting member of the board and shall:

• Call meetings of the board.

• Preside at meetings and hearings.

• Act as spokesperson for the board.

• Sign documents for the board.

• Perform other duties approved by the board.

The vice chairman shall exercise the duties of the chairman in the absence, disability, or disqualification of the chairman. In the absence of the chairman and vice chairman, an acting chairman shall be elected by the members present.

The secretary shall:

• Provide and publish notice of meetings and appeals.

• Assist the chairman in preparation of agenda.

• Keep minutes of meetings and hearings.

• Maintain commission records as public records.

• Attend to commission correspondence.

• Perform other duties normally carried out by the secretary.

• Contact all applicants who are on the agenda to verify the date of the meeting.

• Contact all commission members to verify their attendance of each meeting.

1208.1. Time and place. An annual schedule of regular meetings shall be adopted, published and posted at city hall in December of each year. Special meetings may be called by the chairman upon twenty-four (24) hours' notice, posted, and delivered to all members and local news media. Meetings hall be held in city council chambers and shall be open to the public.

1208.2. Agenda. A written agenda shall be furnished by the secretary to each member of the board and the news media, and shall be posted at least seven (7) days prior to each regular meeting, and at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to a special meeting. Applicants that would like to be placed on the agenda must have their completed application and/or information to the secretary no later than seven (7) days prior to the scheduled meeting. Items cannot be added to the agendas of regularly schedule meetings after the seven-day deadline. All applicants must be present at the meeting to have their case heard. If the applicant does not attend the meeting, the board will table the case until the next scheduled meeting.

1208.3. Quorum. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum. A quorum shall be present before any business is conducted other that rescheduling the meeting.

1208.4. Voting. A member must be present to vote. Each member shall vote on every question unless disqualified by law. The question of disqualification shall be decide by the member affected, who shall announce, the reason for disqualification, give it to the chairman in writing, have it placed in the minutes, and refrain from deliberating or voting on the question.

A.

The board of architectural review shall review applications for permits for the following activities within overlay districts:

1.

All new buildings and structures, excluding single-family residential development and existing exterior signs for existing commercial buildings;

2.

All changes of use from a residential use to a nonresidential use;

3.

Any alteration that increases the total impervious site area or gross floor area of a building;

4.

All new exterior signs;

5.

All exterior alterations to any non-single-family residential structure.

B.

The board shall issue a certificate of approval for activities which comply with the applicable standards.

C.

The board may initiate zoning text amendments pertaining to this article.

D.

The board, by rules of procedure, may delegate to the zoning administrator the authority to approve specified activities, as outlined in this section, which meet all applicable standards in this chapter without review by the board, subject to appeal to the board as provided in this article.

E.

The board may grant a variance from the strict application of architectural review standards to a particular parcel or structure after a public hearing held on fifteen (15) days prior newspaper notice, upon making written factual findings that application of the regulations would result in unnecessary hardship, and that the property or structure to be protected and the alternative site planning and building design approach meet the same design objectives; and the character of the district will not be harmed by the variance. In granting a variance of architectural review standards, the board may attach reasonable conditions in conformity with the purpose of this article.

1210.1. Minutes. The secretary shall record all meetings and hearings of the board on tape which shall be preserved until final action is taken on all matters presented. The secretary shall prepare minutes each meeting for approval by the board at the next regular meeting. Minutes shall be maintained as public records.

1210.2. Reports. The secretary shall assist in the preparation and forwarding of all reports and recommendations of the board in appropriate form. Copies of all notices, correspondence, reports and forms shall be maintained as public records.

1210.3. Attendance. The minutes shall show the members in attendance at each meeting and the reason for absence submitted by any member. The board shall recommend to the governing body the removal for cause of any member who is absent from three (3) consecutive meetings without adequate reason.