City staff informed the Winchester Board of Architectural Review on Oct. 16 that a decision from the board has been appealed and will be heard at the Winchester City Council meeting scheduled for Oct. 28. Under the city's ordinance, council must consult with the board before ruling on BAR appeals; staff said the council typically accepts a statement from the board chair and will accept additional letters from board members.

"The decision made at the last meeting was appealed. It will actually be heard at the city council meeting," staff said, noting the council meeting agenda typically posts online the Thursday before the meeting. Staff recommended that the board chair provide a statement and that any members who wish to submit letters explaining the board rationale may do so; council has sometimes requested board representation at the hearing.

Staff also briefed the board on work to update the BAR guidelines. City staff and a team including Gavin have researched comparable jurisdictions and prepared draft suggestions aimed at clarifying how murals are treated in the historic district. "There is currently only one paragraph referencing murals and the threshold is just 'compatibility,'" staff said, adding the updated guidelines will provide clearer criteria and examples. The board asked staff to bring proposed guideline language back in December for the board's review. Staff said the zoning ordinance now requires an advertised public hearing as part of the guideline-update process, similar to demolition hearings.

Board members suggested related topics to include in the guideline update: garage-door guidance for historic garages, the historic-plaques process, and clarifying the financial-hardship clause that has been described by members as "a gray area." Staff acknowledged the need to coordinate any guideline language with zoning to avoid conflicting definitions or permit processes for murals.

Staff said the guideline update is the board's prerogative and the December packet will be a starting point for the board to refine language. Members were encouraged to attend the Oct. 28 council hearing or submit letters if they wish to speak to the appeal.