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| The Downtown Design Review Standards
adopted by the City of Piqua in the fall of 1999 are in place to
attempt to maintain the historical integrity of the downtown
buildings. The City of Piqua has a wonderful variety of buildings from a
number of different era's featuring many diverse styles. Our
goal is to retain and enhance the uniqueness of their historic
nature. Downtown buildings are unique in that first floor
storefronts are frequently remodeled while upper stories often
retain their original detail. |
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| The following general guidelines are
intended to assist anyone through the design review process. Since
each application before the Design Review Board is judged on its
own merit these are merely general guidelines and may not always be
applicable. |
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- Step 1:
Obtain a Design Review Board application from the Planning
and Zoning office, located in the Municipal Government Complex
at 201 W Water Street, 778-2049 or from
Mainstreet Piqua, 326 N. Main Street, 773-9355.
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- Step 2:
Obtain a copy of the City of Piqua Rehabilitation of
Historic Building Design Standards booklet. The standards deal with all
issues pertaining to the exterior of the buildings and
also gives a brief overview of the architectural styles
present in Downtown Piqua.
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| In general any changes you are making to
the exterior of the building, i.e. painting, windows, doors,
signs etc. will need to go before the design review board to
receive a certificate of appropriateness. Changes to the rear of
buildings, as well fronts, are applicable to the Design Review Board. |
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- Step 3: If
you have questions about whether your plans for the
structure will meet the standards we are here to help you.
Either the Planning and Zoning office or Mainstreet Piqua will
be able to explain the guidelines to you and give you
input on what will likely be acceptable to the Design
Review Board.
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- Step 4:
Submit your completed application to the City Planning and
Zoning office
as soon as it is completed. Be sure you have attached the
appropriate paint color samples, sketches, plans,
photographs etc. The more specific you are in your
application the less questions the Downtown District
Design Review Board or city staff will have for you.
Architects measured drawings are not required for the
design review board, a simple sketch will suffice. In the event that city staff does have
questions, or they believe the Board may have reason to
reject your application, they will contact you and explain
your options to you.
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- Step 5:
Design Review Board Meetings are generally held on the
fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Municipal
Government Complex. Once your application has been reviewed
by the city staff for completeness it will put on the
agenda and you will be notified of the time and place of
the meeting at which your application will be reviewed.
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- Step 6: You
are strongly encouraged to attend the Downtown District
Design Review Board meeting at which your application is
being discussed. This gives Board Members the opportunity
to ask for clarification or explanation of anything that
might be in your application. If you are unable to attend
it would be helpful for you to send someone familiar with
your project and plans.
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- Step 7: The
meetings are attended by the 5 members of the Design
Review Board and a representative from the City Planning
and Zoning office. Others in attendance may include the Mainstreet
Piqua director, the City Code Enforcement officer, the
press, the public and those whose applications are before
the board for consideration.
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| Each application is reviewed using either
the Secretary of the Interior Standards and/or The Piqua Design
Standards. The city staff and board members will be asked for
their comments on the application. Then the applicant will be
asked if they have any comments or would like to add any
additional information to their application. At this time the board will generally make a
motion to either approve or deny a certificate of
appropriateness. |
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- Step 8: If
your certificate of appropriateness is approved, work on
the structure/sign/windows etc. may proceed immediately.
If your certificate of appropriateness is tabled the board
will review it at the next meeting with additional
information supplied by the applicant. If your
certificate of appropriateness is denied the design review
board will likely discuss your options. You are encouraged
to resubmit your application with any needed changes.
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