[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Roslyn Harbor 1-27-2021 by L.L. No. 1-2021. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
The purpose of this chapter is to preserve and protect the unique character of the Village and to encourage the exterior design and exterior construction of buildings, structures, site landscaping and appurtenant site improvements, and the use and improvement of property within the Village in ways that maintain this character. In furtherance of this purpose, the Board is concerned about the following:
(1) 
Excessive uniformity, similarity, dissimilarity, inappropriateness or poor quality of design and use of certain materials for the exterior of buildings and structures in the Village.
(2) 
Detrimental relationship to the surrounding area or the existing site, due to the improper placement or location of buildings, improved surfaces or the excessive or unnecessary site disturbance of natural features of a site.
B. 
The Board of Trustees finds that construction projects within the Village, which exhibit the characteristics identified in Subsection A(1) and A(2) above, do not preserve or adhere to the unique character of the Village, which this chapter is intended to protect. Specifically, the Board of Trustees finds that those projects could detrimentally affect the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the Village in that those projects may adversely affect the desirability of the immediate and neighboring areas, discourage the most appropriate use of land for residential purposes, and impair the stability and value of both improved and unimproved real property.
C. 
The intent of this chapter is to prevent the potentially harmful effects of those projects that are described above by instituting architectural review of building permit applications. This review shall be conducted by a licensed architect, appointed by the Board of Trustees as the Village's Architectural Consultant. The Village's Architectural Consultant will assist building permit applicants to address those design and construction elements of their plan that exhibit the detrimental characteristics identified above. This review will not only maintain, but will improve the physical and visual appearance of the Village, conserve the value of buildings, encourage the appropriate use of land and maintain the character of the Village.
No building permit shall be issued by the Building Inspector for the exterior construction of any building, addition to, or exterior alteration of an existing building, the erection of a structure, or site improvements that require a building permit until the Village's Architectural Consultant has reviewed and approved the plans and design in accordance with this chapter.
In reviewing the building permit plans, the Village's Architectural Consultant shall consider the following:
A. 
Materials, quality of construction, color and architectural design.
B. 
The overall exterior building design, mass and scale, including but not limited to the height of construction, roof design, window design, placement and configuration and the overall harmony of the various exterior elements with each other in design and materials.
C. 
Excessive dissimilarity, visual discord, or inappropriateness of design with respect to other buildings existing in the vicinity.
D. 
Excessive site disturbance in relation to the environmental, ecological, natural or other features of the subject site and properties in the vicinity, including but not limited to detrimental alteration of topography or drainage patterns and interference with the natural terrain or vegetation of surrounding properties.
E. 
Such other criteria for architectural review as shall be adopted by resolution by the Board of Trustees.
The Village's Architectural Consultant may require the following submissions:
A. 
Completed building permit application with all fees paid and the appropriate number of required sets;
B. 
Building plans, along with a sample board of all building materials to be used and renderings of the proposed construction;
C. 
Most current survey available reflecting all existing structures on the property;
D. 
Elevations of the construction;
E. 
Aerial of the site showing the property and the homes immediately surrounding the subject property;
F. 
Site plan showing proposed site improvements, landscaping, lighting, driveway details, drainage and the current and proposed topographical detail;
G. 
Any other additional technical submission the Village's Architectural Consultant may require.
The Village's Architectural Consultant acts as an advisor to the Village Building Inspector and the Village. If the Village's Architectural Consultant does not recommend approval of a building permit application, he shall detail his objections and recommendations to the applicant. The Board of Trustees, or its appointed representative(s), may affirm, reverse or modify any recommendations of the Village's Architectural Consultant. The Board of Trustees, or its appointed representative, shall make the final determination regarding whether a building application complies with this chapter.
Any person aggrieved by the action of the Board of Trustees, or its appointed representative, in approving or disapproving a permit application or in approving an application with conditions, or by action of the Building Inspector in denying a building permit because of disapproval under this chapter, may, within 30 days after the determination of the Board of Trustees, or its appointed representative, institute a proceeding to review in the manner provided by Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules.