If you're coming from the newsletter (go, you), start at the page break below. If you're just joining us (hi), start right here:

This past May, City Council adopted a new set of downtown guidelines and August 3 will mark the Design Review Board’s first meeting using these new guidelines.

As a part of the process, the city of Greenville held a series of public workshops with 200 attendees and conducted an online survey with 357 responses to determine the goals for the Design Guidelines in September 2016. Participants ranked the following goals for downtown Greenville in order of importance:

1.Protect and enhance the natural assets of downtown Greenville.

2.Provide for a pleasant, rich and diverse pedestrian experience.

3.Promote the development of diverse places and areas with special character.

4.Encourage the legacy of urban design excellence.

5.Ensure that new development is at a human scale and relates to the scale and desired character of its setting.

6.Ensure development is inclusive of all people.

Using these goals, the following design principles were created (pg. 15):

Walkable: This one’s pretty self explanatory, but the city wants to make sure all individuals can easily flow through downtown without hindrance.

Connected: Our downtown buildings should create direct and convenient access by siting entrances that interact seamlessly with adjoining sidewalks

Human Scaled: Buildings should incorporate architectural features along sidewalks and other primary public rights-of-way that add visual interest and provide visual cues for pedestrians and cyclists relating to access and use (think benches, outdoor tables, and even bike racks).

Resilient: When possible, buildings and infrastructure improvements should be constructed of materials sourced and/ or recycled from the immediate region.

Green: The planting of water efficient shade trees along pedestrian pathways, tree wells and paving that minimize and/or collect stormwater runoff are encouraged.

Active: Building programs should incorporate bicycle facilities, public art and, where appropriate, passive and active recreational opportunities within accompanying private realm spaces.

It’s worth noting that Greenville has also outlined “special districts” (pg. 17) where conditions are based on existing infrastructure, natural amenity, topography and history (think of our historic districts, such as the West End in these cases).

So, who makes up the Design Review Board?

These are the folks who approve and disapprove the signage you see on downtown businesses and the ones who vote on changes to homes in our city’s historic districts, among other decisions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First, a little history:

The Design Review Board (formerly the Design and Preservation Commission) was established in 2009 as a board of nine members, consisting of two panels of four with the Chair serving on both panels. In 2015, City Council amended the DRB to add a tenth member, which divided the group into two 5 person boards, allowing for a Chair and Vice Chair for each Board.

So, what do they do exactly?
In short, the DRB Neighborhood Panel focuses on preservation overlay district matters (Greenville’s Historic Districts) and DRB Urban focuses on the Central Business District as well as reviews multi-family projects (apartment, condos, etc.). Once a matter is presented and approved by the DRB, any decisions requiring additional approval are forwarded to City Council or the Planning Commission to take action.

How do you become a member?

All members are simply volunteers that are appointed by City Council and must have experience, training or demonstrated interest in design, construction, preservation or planning for buildings, site design or landscaping (In general, you have to have to know what you’re talking about on matters of design and the guidelines set by the city).

Applicants:

Must reside within the city limits of Greenville
Are not required to be licensed in the fields of architecture, engineering, real estate or landscape architecture, but...
Are required to participate in annual state mandated training if they do not retain certain professional licenses.
That are currently on a board may be reappointed for an additional term or may consider appointment of an applicant to the position (use those connections).

Upcoming Board and Commission Vacancies . . .

Design Review Board - Urban Panel: 3 seats expiring at the end of July
Design Review Board - Neighborhood Panel: 2 seats expiring at the end of July
Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee: 2 seats expiring at the end of September
Green Ribbon Advisory Committee: 3 seats expiring at the end of September
Greenville Housing Authority: 2 seats expiring at the end of September

The members of these committees donate their time and expertise to the city of Greenville and have helped shape it into the beautiful place we have today. If you live in the City and think you have what it takes, you can apply here or you can forward this along to someone you know who would be perfect for the job.

Here’s a look at the current members of the Design Review Board Urban and Neighborhood Panel:

Neighborhood Panel:

Robert C. Benedict

John R. Edwards

Parks McLeod

Michael Mecklenburg

Joel Patterson

Urban Panel:

Carmella M. Cioffi

Danielle Fontaine

Mitchell “Mitch” Lehde

Todd Malo

Barry Nocks