Town of Carroll, New Hampshire

• Town Services
• Town Meeting Minutes
• Planning Board/ZBA
• Applications & Forms
• Town Clerk/Tax Collector
• Map
• Home

Minutes of Town Board Meetings

• Planning Board
• Board of Adjustment
• Select Board
• Budget Committee
• Building Committee
• Energy Commission

Architectural Design Review

May 4th, 2007

ARTICLE VI-A

TOWN OF CARROLL SITE PLAN REVIEW REGULATIONS FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN REVIEW

A. ARCHITECTURAL PLANS:

No permit shall be granted for a commercial, industrial or multi-family (3+) building unless an
architectural plan drawn to scale meets all of the requirements of the Planning Board and specifications
have been filed with and approved by the Planning Board.

B. PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Architectural Design Regulations is to:

1. Provide for compatible architecture throughout the Town which respects universal design
principles, enhances the appearance of Carroll, reinforces pedestrian character where appropriate,
and is sensitive to neighboring buildings, the broader setting, and natural and cultural resources.

2. Protect and enhance the positive visual qualities of Carroll’s commercial corridors, and scenic
and rural landscapes.

3. Encourage design which is compatible with the traditional character of the North Country. The
Town of Carroll is inextricably linked to the world famous White Mountains which attracts
people desiring to experience that aura. The surrounding architecture should enhance and not
detract from that experience.

4. Foster civic pride.

The objective of these regulations is not intended to restrict imagination, innovation or variety in the
new construction, restoration and renovation of commercial buildings and related property but rather
to enhance the visual appearance of the community and to further encourage continued economic
development. These regulations are intended to discourage routine franchise architecture, strip mall
vistas and urban blight. Applicants are encouraged to come before the Board for a preliminary
design review” before submitting a final application and prior to a public hearing.

C. ADOPTION:

This section is adopted pursuant to the Town of Carroll Site Plan Review and New Hampshire Revised
Statues Annotated sections 674:21 (Innovative Land Use Controls) and 674:44 (Site Plan Review
Regulations)

D. APPLICABILITY:

1. Architectural design review is required as part of Site Plan Review for all nonresidential structures
and for all residential structures where the total number of dwelling units, in one structure exceeds
two. This includes all new construction, building additions, and alteration to buildings if those
alterations would significantly affect the exterior appearance of the building. Design review is
required only for building elevations and portions of structures that would be visible from public
street or path or from neighboring residential properties. All applicable development must conform
to these regulations as reasonably interpreted and applied by the Planning Board.

2. Architectural design review is not required for development related to single family or two family
structures, routine repair or maintenance of structures, any work on the interior of a building, any
existing structures for which no exterior alterations are proposed, and modifications solely for the
purpose of providing safe means of egress or access in order to meet requirements of the Code
Enforcement Department.

3. These architectural design regulations do not apply to industrial buildings built in the Industrial
Zone; however, additional screening may be required for industrial buildings.

E. PROCESS:

The Architectural Plans shall, at a minimum, indicate the following:

1. Floor plan(s)
2. Building Elevations (all four sides)
3. The type of windows and doors to be installed on the building.
4. The type of building material to be used on the exterior of the building.
5. The Board may request details, and other plans (axonometric, details, etc.) should they believe
that it is in the best interests of the community in the review of the project.

F. GENERAL APPEARANCE CRITERIA:

1. In order to provide for the harmonious and aesthetically pleasing development of the municipality
and its environs as set out in NHRSA 674:44, II (b), the Planning Board will use the following
criteria and factors in its review and evaluation of the architectural design of proposed commercial
structures:

a. Conformance with this section - General Appearance Criteria.
b. Architectural character.
c. Building materials and subdued color considerations.
d. Vehicular and pedestrian circulation and parking.
e. Lighting design.
f. Integration of landscaping and buffer areas.
g. Retention, alteration, or removal of existing structures and site features.

2. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, or of the specific sections which follow, an
architectural design shall be disapproved:

a. To any extent it is incompatible with, or clashes with, existing architectural styles in the Town
of Carroll, particularly in the vicinity of the proposed use.
b. To any extent the designs, building placement, color schemes and exterior building materials
draw attention away from, have the appearance of domination over, or otherwise adversely
impact, the vistas of the White Mountain scenery of the Town of Carroll.
c. To any extent it is incompatible with, or clashes with the traditional and historic architectural
styles associated with the tourist-frequented portions of the White Mountains region.
d. To any extent the architectural style itself is intended to, or in fact does, serve a product or
brand-name recognition function arising from the use of that style in other areas and regions
of the Country; provided however, that this prohibition shall not apply to features protected by
Federal trademark laws, or to signs that otherwise comply with all ordinances and regulations.
e. To any extent the layout or appearance of a project, including its landscaping, create the
aesthetic appearance of domination by non-natural elements, including but not limited to large
or unbroken areas of pavement or building surface.

G. SITE DEVELOPMENT:

The development of the site shall provide a total design plan for the proposed construction. The
building's orientation, setback, alignment with the street, and relative spacing with respect to other
structures will be considered in the overall design. Long, strip-mall type development shall be avoided.
"U-shaped", "L-shaped", etc., structures are encouraged. The overall architectural theme for the site
development should create a positive image for the project.

H. SITE ORGANIZATION AND LAYOUT:

1. All existing natural and man-made features of the site shall be identified on the plans. Natural
features and man-made features of historic or other cultural significance shall be integrated into the
overall site design to the maximum extent, and the Board shall not approve a plan which destroys or
compromises such features if any feasible alternative exists which also meets the applicant’s other-
wise permissible objectives, but which significantly reduces the adverse impact on such features.

2. Because a compact building arrangement provides savings in grading, paving, utilities and other
costs, and helps preserve natural features and open space, the proposed buildings shall be clustered
on the site to the maximum extent possible, and the Board shall not approve a plan if there exists a
feasible alternative which also meets the applicant’s otherwise permissible objectives, but which
significantly improves the compactness of the site.

3. The layout shall separate vehicular and pedestrian pathways of travel, and layout which creates
avoidable conflict between vehicles and pedestrians, or which creates any other avoidable safety
hazard, shall not be approved.

4. The site shall be designed in order to minimize the intrusiveness and dominance—from the
viewpoint of public highways and other public lands – of paved areas (parking and driveways)
serving automobiles. To the greatest extent practicable, parking areas shall be sited no closer to the
highway than the primary buildings, and shall be partially concealed behind the buildings if possible.
this layout requirement is in addition to the screening and landscaped island requirements in the
Landscaping Criteria (see Section J.). The Board shall not approve a layout if there exists a feasible
alternative which also meets the applicant’s otherwise permissible objectives, but which alternative
significantly improves compliance with the objectives of this paragraph.


I. ARCHITECTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Roofs. Monotony of design or warehouse style structures shall be avoided. Variation in detail, form
and sitting shall be used to provide visual interest. In order to prevent the construction of warehouse
style buildings (i.e. long horizontal roof lines), all new buildings and additions shall be pitched roofs
of 3:12 or greater, or gabled roofs, where practical. Shed, gambrel and barn style roofs are also
acceptable. Dormers are encouraged. Roofs must have appropriate overhangs.

In large commercial structures over 200 feet in length where pitched roofs are not practical, the use
of false building fronts shall be used to imitate pitched roofs to vary the horizontal lines along
portions of the facade to create the appearance of multiple attached buildings. Additionally,
changes in building elevations may be used in conjunction with pitched roofs to give the appearance
of multiple attached buildings.

All sides of a structure shall receive design consideration. A facade unrelated to the rest of the
building, is not acceptable.

2. Building materials. Exterior surfaces of building shall be covered with traditional materials or
products which simulate natural materials, including but not limited to clapboards, shingles,
stone, brick, or architectural CMU's. Exposed plain cinder block, corrugated steel, sheet plastic
or sheet fiberglass are not acceptable. Pitched roofs shall be constructed of shingles, metal
roofing or other materials traditionally used in this region.

3. Awnings. Brightly colored or illuminated type awnings are not acceptable. Awnings may be
made of transparent materials (glass or clear Plexiglas type products). Awning covers designed
for shade should be made of fabric or simulated fabric-like material.

4. Architectural details. Balconies, decks, covered porches, decorative shingles, bracketed eaves,
columns, balustrades, towers, turrets, skylights and arches are among the details to be
considered and encouraged. All features and details should be in proportions with the building.

5. Windows and doors. Windows shall comprise no less than 5% of the exterior wall surface of the
portions of the building facing a public right-of-way, parking area, or a developed area - on or
off site. Windows may be used for either interior illumination of for display purposes. All
windows and doorways shall be encased with trim; decorative trim is preferred. (This guideline can
be waived if it is shown that the windows will serve no useful function and will interfere with an
otherwise acceptable architectural design.)

6. Fencing. Fences shall be made of traditional New England materials (i.e. picket, split rail,
wrought iron, brick, stone). Visible chain link fences shall not be permitted except in cases
where there is no feasible alternative for fulfilling a demonstrated need for security.

7. Lighting. Site lighting must conform to the specifications in these Regulations, with no light
spilling or reflecting onto adjacent properties.

8. Color. Exterior colors of buildings and accessories should be muted. Bright and stark colors that
are incompatible with the tourist-frequented portions White Mountains Region are not
acceptable.

9. Mechanical Equipment. All rooftop mechanical units shall be located so as not to be visible
from the street level or from other public areas on the ground level. Wall or ground mounted
equipment shall be screened from public view with fences or vegetation. (Amended4/15/99)

J. LANDSCAPING CRITERIA:

1. All shade trees should be a minimum of 2 inch diameter at breast height at planting. All
evergreen trees should be a minimum of 6 feet high at planting.

2. At planting, evergreen shrubs should be a minimum of 2 feet high and deciduous or flowering
shrubs should be 3 feet high (unless species is low growing variety).

3. All trees should be planted in a permeable area of no less than a three (3) foot wide radius from
the base of the tree.

4. Existing trees of significant size or special character should be preserved wherever possible.

5. Planting islands should be used to define vehicular and pedestrian circulation patterns and to
break up large expanses of pavement. In general, islands should be distributed throughout the
parking lot. A combination of end cap island and linear islands running parallel to parking rows
are preferred. Island should include trees and be planted with either grass or evergreen shrubs.

6. Plantings adjacent to pavement should be protected with curbs or equivalent barriers to protect
them from vehicular damage.

7. Views from public streets of large parking lots should be screened with low (2 1/2' to 4')
evergreen shrubs, densely twigged deciduous shrubs, evergreen trees, mounds, berms, walls, or
a combination thereof, provided that adequate sight distance is maintained.


8. Screening or buffering of commercial uses from residential properties should consist of
evergreen trees and shrubs, opaque fencing, walls, berms, or a combination thereof.

9. Plantings should be used to identify major entryways to sites, screen service and storage areas
and freestanding sign poles, and break up long building walls.

10. Plant materials should be of specimen quality conforming to the American Standard for
Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1 - 1980 or later revision) and should be guaranteed for at least one
year.

11. Landscaping should be maintained to present a healthy appearance.








































5/03/2007

Town of Carroll, New Hampshire ®2024