The Architectural Design Review Board (ADRB) has made recommendations to Village Council to address Historic Preservation and Appearance Code Guidelines. 

The Coalition for Managed Redevelopment commends the Architectural Design Review Board (ADRB) for their efforts on behalf of the Village.  Under the direction of Chairman Mike Davenport, the ADRB has devoted considerable thought and effort to developing recommendations to the Village Council on two issues: historic preservation and architectural design review.
  
The ADRB recommends the Village Council adopt a historic preservation ordinance, after further public input, providing for preservation of historic structures and neighborhoods with owner consent.  They further recommend that the Village provide for Neighborhood Conservation Districts, which could be used (again with consent) to preserve the character of
neighborhoods that are not necessarily “historic” but that have qualities that the residents value and want to preserve.  Since the Village is a mosiac of neighborhoods built in different eras, the benefits of neighborhood preservation should not be limited to those who live in the oldest parts of town. 

The ADRB also recommends that the Village adopt a design review system for all commercially-zoned areas, including new, user-friendly design guidelines, tailored to the town’s various commercial areas.  The ADRB recommends that an appointed body of citizens, such as the ADRB, administer the design review guidelines.

The Coalition supports the ADRB in these recommendations.  In addition, we think the Village should consider expanding the duties of the ADRB to include developing guidelines for residential as well as commercial developments. While the recent zoning changes place some limits on the size, placement, and general shape of new houses, the village could benefit from the ARDB’s expertise in developing architectural guidelines to help new houses better fit into older neighborhoods.  Village residents have repeatedly expressed the need to address the issue of newer homes fitting in with the character and look of existing neighborhoods.