Article X, Sections 10-101 to 10-108
Dimensional standards
Servicing
- Geographic extent
- Old and HistoricHistoric districtAn area where exterior changes need design review to protect its character. Alexandria DistrictZoning districtA mapped area with one set of rules, identified by a code like R-1 or B-2. as shown on zoning maps
Extracted standards
10 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Design
- Design review standards
The board of architectural review shall consider overall architectural design, form, style and structure, architectural details, design and arrangement of buildings, texture, material and color, and relation to surroundings.
- Potomac River Vicinity heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. threshold30 ft
Within the Potomac River Vicinity Height District, in addition to the provisions of section 10-105(A)(2), the following standards and guidelines, to the extent relevant in each individual case, shall apply in considering an application for a certificate of appropriateness by the board of architectural review, or by the city council on appeal, for any building in excess of 30 feet in height when such height has been authorized by a special use permit.
- Washington Street bay width
Facades of a building generally shall express the 20- to 40-foot bay width typically found on early 19th century commercial buildings characteristic of the Old and Historic Alexandria District, or the 15- to 20-foot bay width typically found on townhouses characteristic of the Old and Historic Alexandria District.
- Washington Street maximum building footprint8,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Buildings should appear from the public right-of-way to have a footprint no larger than 100 feet by 80 feet.
- Washington Street massing study threshold3,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Applications for projects over 3,000 square feet, or for projects located within 66 feet of land used or zoned for residential uses, shall include a building massing study.
- Washington Street preapplication conference10,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
No fewer than 45 days prior to filing an application for a certificate of appropriateness, an applicant who proposes construction which is subject to this section 10-105(A)(3), shall meet with the director to discuss the application of these standards to the proposed development; provided, that this requirement for a preapplication conference shall apply only to the construction of 10,000 or more square feet of gross building area.
Other
- Certificate expiration12 months
Any certificate of appropriateness issued pursuant to section 10-106(A) and any permit to move, remove, capsulate or demolish in whole or in part in the Old and Historic Alexandria District issued pursuant to section 10-106(B) shall expire of its own limitation 12 months from the date of issuance if the work authorized thereby is not commenced and diligently and substantially pursued by the end of such 12 month period.
- Certificate of appropriateness required
No building or structure shall be erected, reconstructed, altered or restored within the Old and Historic Alexandria District unless and until an application for a certificate of appropriateness shall have been approved by the board of architectural review or the city council on appeal as to exterior architectural features, including signs (see Article IX), which are subject to public view from a public street, way or place.
- Demolition of less than 25 sq ftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000. deemed alteration25 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Demolitions of portions of buildings resulting in the removal of less than 25 square feet total of exterior wall, roof or surface shall be deemed an alteration.
- Permit to move, remove, capsulate or demolish required
No building or structure within the Old and Historic Alexandria District shall be moved, removed, capsulated or demolished in whole or in part without first obtaining a permit approved by the board of architectural review or the city council on appeal, except as provided in section 10-111 and except for demolitions of portions of buildings resulting in the removal of less than 25 square feet total of exterior wall, roof or surface which shall be deemed an alteration and subject to section 10-103(A).
From the ordinance
No building or structure shall be erected, reconstructed, altered or restored within the Old and Historic Alexandria District unless and until an application for a certificate of appropriateness shall have been approved by the board of architectural review or the city council on appeal as to exterior architectural features, including signs (see Article IX), which are subject to public view from a public street, way or place.