Design Review Board




Meetings:


  • The second Thursday of every month, as well as the fourth Thursday (March-June)
  • New applications are due the Thursday prior to the meeting date
  • Meetings are held at 93 Cottage St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609 (note: meetings are being conducted remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic)
  • 2021 meeting schedule (please note new start time of 4 PM)

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.
Most Recent Agenda | View All Agendas and Minutes



Agenda — Design Review Board
Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 4:00 P.M.
Remote Meeting (via Zoom)

Under the Board’s Remote Participation Policy (adopted 8/30/2021), the October 14, 2021 meeting (and workshop immediately following) will be conducted fully remotely (via Zoom) due to the urgent issue of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and the declarations of a public health emergency by both the US and Maine departments of Health and Human Services.

Members of the public may view the proceeding by visiting Town Hall Streams and selecting Bar Harbor from the dropdown menu.

To attend the Zoom meeting to offer comment during the public comment portion of the October 14, 2021 meeting, click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81468714507?pwd=b3Y5TWtxOEVoQVJiMzRKcE1sb0hIZz09.  You can also join by phone by calling (929) 205-6099 (a Zoom number) and entering the following numbers when prompted: Meeting ID: 814 6871 4507, and Passcode: 050477.

Anyone with a disability wishing to attend this remote meeting and who may have questions about how to do so should contact the Planning and Code Enforcement Department at 288-3329.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. EXCUSED ABSENCES

III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
i. April 8, 2021
ii. April 22, 2021
iii. May 13, 2021
iv. August 30, 2021
v. September 9, 2021

V. PUBLIC COMMENT
To make comment, please email designreview@barharbormaine.gov (goes to all board members and town staff), or attend meeting via Zoom (see above)

VI. BUILDING PERMIT REMINDERS

VII. REGULAR BUSINESS
i. Certificate of Appropriateness
Application: DRB-2021-42 (Side Street pergola)
Applicant: Side Street Café (Jeff Young)
Owner: Silk, LLC
Project Location: 49 Rodick Street (104-361-000)
Proposed Project: Changes to exterior appearance of non-historic building (build pergola over existing porch/entryway and driveway space)

ii. Certificate of Appropriateness
Application: DRB-2021-43
Applicant: Mira-Monte Inn & Suites (Bruce Ueno)
Owner: Ueno Inn, LLC
Project Location: 69 Mount Desert Street (104-238-000)
Proposed Project: Changes to exterior appearance of historic building (addition of commercial, NFPA-compliant exhaust hood and fan with enclosed exterior duct work)

VIII. OTHER BUSINESS
i. Consideration/approval of DRB meeting schedule for 2022

IX. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA

X. ADJOURNMENT


Workshop — Design Review Board
Thursday, October 14, 2021 — immediately after 4:00 P.M. meeting
Via Zoom (see notices at top of agenda)

a. Pre-application discussion
Applicant/Owner: SWH Realty Holdings LLC (Greg Johnston, representative)
Project Location: 720 State Highway 3 (216-053-000)
Proposed Project: Changes to exterior appearance of non-historic building(s), installation of sign, other exterior changes to property

b. Discussions on the following subjects:
i. Digital gas station price signs, and in particular in the downtown
ii. DRB Overlay district by street frontage vs. by zoning district
iii. NHRP properties and Appendix A

(END)




Contact the Design Review Board



Email the entire Design Review Board at designreview@barharbormaine.gov

Please note: Sending an email to this address will go to all members of the Design Review Board listed below, as well as town staff members in the Planning and Code Enforcement office: Planning Director Michele Gagnon, Code Enforcement Officer Angela Chamberlain, Deputy Code Enforcement Officer Mike Gurtler, Assistant Planner Steve Fuller and Administrative Assistant Tammy DesJardin.

If the message relates to a particular application before the Design Review Board, that email will also be provided to the applicant. Any message sent to this email address is also considered a public record and may be subject to a request under the Maine Freedom of Access Act. Information that you wish to keep confidential should not be included in email correspondence to this address.

Contact information for individual Design Review Board members is not provided, as anything sent to individual member(s) of the board and not all parties involved in the review of a particular application would constitute ex parte communication.


Members:


  • Barbara Sassaman, Chair
    Term expires 2023
  • Maya Caines
    Term expires 2024
  • Francis "Pancho" Cole
    Term expires 2024
  • Vacancy
    Term expires 2023
  • Andrew Geel
    Term expires 2022
  • Vacancy
    Term expires 2023
  • Peter Bono
    Term expires 2022

Additional Information


The Design Review Board reviews all projects which are located within their jurisdiction. Their jurisdiction includes the Downtown Village Districts, the Shoreland General Development I District, Town Hill Business, and the Village Historic District. However, regardless of the district location, any conditionally permitted use or property which houses a bed and breakfast is subject to design review.

Board Process


The Design Review Board must review applications for demolition of structures which are historic, the moving or relocation of a building or sign which is historic, any exterior material change to the exterior of a historic building, sign, fence, or structure. Any new construction of principal or accessory structures, except for single or two family dwellings. Any material change to the exterior of a non historic building, sign, fence, or structure. Any change in existing fences, retaining walls, or freestanding walls, the erection of a new sign, relocation of an existing sign, change of appearance of an existing sign, and seasonal closure of businesses. However, it is advisable to meet with the Code Enforcement/Planning Department staff to determine whether or not Design Review Board approval is required.

A building permit is required for all activities except painting, regardless of approval by any other reviewing body.

Certificate of Appropriateness


In order to ensure the aesthetic quality of Bar Harbor is preserved, the town requires a certificate of appropriateness from the Design Review Board before many changes to the exterior of buildings, or the addition of a sign can be made. Examples of construction or renovation projects that require a certificate of appropriateness include:
  • Demolition or relocation of a historic building
  • Changes to the exterior appearance of an historic or non-historic building including:
    • Windows and doors
    • Williamsburg exterior paint colors - if colors are chosen from the approved design review board color charts (also available in Planning Office) then a Design Review Board Certificate of Appropriateness is not required
    • Siding and roofing
    • Awnings
  • Landscape lighting
  • Construction of a new commercial building or an addition to an existing commercial building
  • Installation or changes in fences or freestanding walls
  • Installation or changes in signage including sandwich boards
  • Installation or changes in outdoor storage or display including vending machines
  • Plans for seasonal closure

Application for Certificate of Appropriateness


Below are links to applications for specific types of projects:

Design Rules