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An ARB of a
different color
By Monty Tayloe
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
The April 23 joint meeting of the Washington Tbwn Planning Commission and Architectural Review Board continued the process of reviewing and making changes to the proposed Historic District Ordinance. At their April meeting, the two bodies completed the first stage of preliminary changes to the proposed ordinance, and will now move on to the Historic District Guidelines. The Guidelines will provide clear examples and a basis for ARB decisions, protecting Washington from court challenges.
Although the process of actually putting a new ordinance into law is several stages removed from completion, the proposed changes already point to a changed Architectural Review Board for Washington. If the changes discussed in these planning meetings become final, the manner in which future ARB’s regulate the appearance of Washington will considerably change. The paint color, long regulated by the ARB chosen by Washington residents will no longer be subject to their approval. Conversely, the ARB’s dominion was in the past confined to architectural features visible from public streets. Since the new guidelines are focused on preserving the historic character of Washington, the new ordinance may affect changes to any part of a building.
According to Cheryl Sheppard of Millennium Preservation Services, who is helping Washington design the ordinance, any changes to the structure of a historic building can jeopardize its status, whether publicly visible or not. This means that future ARB’s may have to get more involved with the minutiae of construction in a way they never have been. Washington residents may have to go before future ARB’s in order to replace their porch railings or paving stones.
“It sees to me that the role of the ARB is changing,” said ARB member Michelle Schwartz.
However, all the changes and suggestions made in the joint meeting sessions will later be subject to public comment and Town council debate, and the ultimate Historic District Ordinance may not resemble this early draft by the time it is passed.
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