§ 8.5. Community Design Commission.

8.5.1. Establishment of the Commission; Charge.

A Community Design Commission, consisting of nine (9) members appointed in accordance with the council's advisory board membership policy, is hereby established. The charge of the commission is to assist the council in guiding the town's vision on aesthetics, character and function to focus community growth through advice, advocacy, and implementation of the council's policies and review of proposed development in key areas of the community.

8.5.2. Qualifications.

Members shall be appointed in accordance with the council's advisory board membership policy and shall reside within the planning jurisdiction of Chapel Hill. Members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual expenses incidental to the performance of their duties within the limit of funds available to the commission.

8.5.3. Tenure.

Members of the commission shall be appointed in accordance with the council's advisory board membership policy.

8.5.4. Officers.

Officers and terms of officers shall be in accordance with the council's advisory board membership policy.

8.5.5. Powers of the Commission.

The commission is authorized and empowered to undertake such actions reasonably necessary to the discharge and conduct of its duties and responsibilities as outlined in this appendix, in Chapter 160A, Article 19, Part 7 of the N.C. General Statutes, and in Chapter 278 of the N.C. Session Laws of 1965, including but not limited to the following:

(a)

To review site analysis data and conceptual development plans, and offer recommendations to the applicant.

(b)

To initiate, promote, and assist in the implementation of programs of general community beautification in the Chapel Hill community;

(c)

To seek to coordinate the activities of individuals and public or private agencies and organizations whose plans, activities, and programs bear on the appearance of the community;

(d)

To provide leadership and guidance in matters of community design and appearance to individuals and public or private agencies and organizations;

(e)

To make studies of the visual characteristics and problems of the community, including surveys and inventories of an appropriate nature, and to recommend standards and policies of design for the entire community or any portion or neighborhood thereof, or any project to be undertaken therein;

(f)

To prepare both general and specific plans for the improved appearance of the entire community or any portion thereof, including private as well as public property. Such plans shall set forth desirable standards and goals for the aesthetic enhancement of the community or any portion thereof, including public ways and areas, open spaces, and public and private buildings and projects;

(g)

To request from the proper officials of any public agency or body its plans for public buildings, facilities, or projects to be located within the town's jurisdiction, and to review such plans and to make recommendations regarding their aesthetic suitability to the appropriate agency or body, or to the council. The commission shall review all such plans in a prompt and expeditious manner, and shall make all recommendations with regard to any public project in writing, and shall promptly transmit copies of the recommendation to the appropriate agency or body, and to the council;

(h)

To formulate and recommend to the planning commission and council the adoption or amendment of ordinances that, in the opinion of the commission, will serve to enhance the appearance of the community and/or strengthen design standards for development within the town's jurisdiction;

(i)

To direct the attention of appropriate town officials to needed enforcement of any ordinance that may affect the appearance of the community;

(j)

To seek voluntary adherence to the standards and policies of its plans;

(k)

To enter, at reasonable times, upon private lands and make examinations or surveys as necessary in the performance of its official duties;

(l)

To promote public interest in and understanding of its recommendations, studies, and plans, and to prepare, publish, and distribute to the public such studies and reports that, in the opinion of the commission, will advance the cause of improved community appearance;

(m)

To conduct public meetings and hearings, giving reasonable notice to the public thereof;

(n)

To conduct an annual meeting at which the programs, problems, and policies of the commission shall be presented, and at which the public at large shall be invited to express itself on matters relating to the appearance and adopted design standards of the community;

(o)

To recommend to the council suitable arrangement for the procurement or provision of staff or technical services for the commission;

(p)

To establish an advisory council or other committees within its membership as it may deem necessary;

(q)

To accept funds from private agencies, foundations, organizations, individuals, the state or federal government, or any other source, and to disburse such funds for any purpose within the scope of its authority;

(r)

To review all schematic building designs for special use permits or special use permit modifications, and forward comments and recommendations for consideration at council public hearings;

(s)

To review lighting plans and building elevations filed as part of an application for development;

(t)

To review alternative landscape bufferyards in accordance with subsection 5.6.6 of this appendix; and

(u)

To hear and decide applications for certificates of appropriateness in the Blue Hill District in accord with Section 3.11 of this appendix.

8.5.6. Meetings.

The commission shall establish a regular meeting schedule, and shall meet at least quarterly and more often as it shall determine and require.

All meetings of the commission shall be open to the public, and reasonable notice of the time and place thereof shall be given to the public, in accord with Chapter 143, Article 33C of the N.C. General Statutes.

The commission shall keep a record of its meetings, including attendance of its members, and its resolutions, findings, recommendations, and actions.

8.5.7. Attendance at meetings.

Attendance at meetings shall be in accordance with the council's advisory board membership policy.

8.5.8. Quorum and voting.

A quorum of the commission, necessary to take any official action, shall consist of five (5) members. The concurring vote of five (5) members shall be necessary to take any official action to approve or deny an application or permit.

The concurring majority vote of the quorum shall be necessary to conduct other business, including making a recommendation on an application to be considered by the council.

(Ord. No. 2008-11-10/O-1, § 1; Ord. No. 2014-03-10/O-2, § 2, 3 ; Ord. No. 2018-05-23/O-5.1 , § 41; Ord. No. 2018-06-27/O-4 , § 3)