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| Millyard View from City Hall 1927 |
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Millyard Design Review
Millyard Design Review Committee
The Millyard Design Review Committee was created in 1996 by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen in order to provide for the proper design review necessary to enhance the image and protect the interest in the historic Amoskeag Millyard. In 2001, the Committee’s area of jurisdiction was expanded beyond the Amoskeag Millyard Historic District to newly include the entire AMX district on both side of the Merrimack River.
The Millyard Design Review Committee is specifically empowered by the Zoning Ordinance to review any of the following actions within the AMX District:
- Major exterior rehabilitation or restoration of existing buildings, excluding normal maintenance, repair or in-kind replacement of materials or components;
- New, or changes to existing, signage;
- Additions or new free standing structures.
(Note: Any and all proposals to demolish a building or structure falls into the jurisdiction of the Heritage Commission.)
Review of Building Permit Applications in the AMX District
The Millyard Design Review Committee is required by the Zoning Ordinance to review all building permit applications falling within their jurisdiction in the AMX district [see City of Manchester Zoning Ordinance, Article 7.01(D)]. In such cases, in addition to the typical application for building permit which is filed with the Building Department, the applicant must also complete and file with the Planning and Community Development Department an “Application For Design Review”.
As an aid to the general public, the Planning and Community Development Department provides general application assistance to anyone seeking information about, or wishing to file, a Millyard Design Review Committee “Application For Design Review”.
Once a completed “Application For Design Review” is received by the Millyard Design Review Committee, it will placed on the agenda for Committee’s next regularly sche-duled monthly meeting. At that meeting, the Commission will review all applications listed on their agenda and they will also decide what their recommendation to the Building Department will be with respect to each application.
After completing their review of the submitted building permit application, and within 30 days of their original receipt of the “Application For Design Review”, unless the appli-cant agrees to a longer period of time, the Millyard Design Review Committee will for-ward to the Building Department a written Finding document which will contain any findings and recommendations they may have concerning the reviewed application. No building permit shall be issued by the Building Department until after they have received the Committee’s Finding document
Review of Conditional Use Permits, Building Use and Design Plans, or Site Plan Review Applications
Whenever the Millyard Design Review Committee, acting upon the request of the Planning Board, conducts a review of any conditional use permit, building use and design plan, or site plan for a use or design which would take place in the AMX district, it is required to report its findings or recommendations in those cases to the Planning Board within 30 days of receiving the Planning Board request to carry out that review [see Zoning Ordinance, Article 7.01(D)].
Policy on Signage
In response to the increasing loss of architecturally notable buildings and historic struc-tures in the Amoskeag Millyard, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, in 1994, specifically charged the Millyard Design Review Committee with the task of reviewing all proposals for major exterior property changes in the Millyard – including changes to exterior signage.
With this charge in mind, the Committee designed and issued its Millyard Signage Guidelines which the Committee recommends should be examined closely by all applicants proposing outdoor signage in the Amoskeag Millyard. [NOTE: the Millyard Signage Guidelines can be downloaded from this web site.]
In brief, the Signage Guidelines require most sign applicants to develop a “Sign Package” which will identify all anticipated signage on a particular property and will include that property owner’s overall sign design philosophy, will discuss the interrelationship in styles, shapes, sizes, illuminations and materials intended to be used in the proposed signage displays.
Membership
The Zoning Ordinance stipulates that the Millyard Design Review Committee shall be comprised of eight members: a representative of the Central Business Service District, the City Planning Director, an Aldermanic representative, and the following members appointed by the Mayor for one term of three years: two property owners in the district, a member of the Heritage Commission, and two members from the architectural or design field.
Meetings
Generally, the Millyard Design Review Committee meets only to review submitted and scheduled building permit applications which fall with their jurisdiction. All Committee meetings are held at the City of Manchester Planning Department. If deemed necessary, their meeting are held at 8:30 AM on the second Wednesday of each month.
Anyone seeking to attend a Commission meeting is advised to verify the meeting date in advance. This can be best be done by checking with the Planning and Community Development Department (624-6450).
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