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Council keeps Architectural Review Board composition change in committee after debate over architect requirement
Summary
Council discussed an ordinance that would remove the requirement that Architectural Review Board members be licensed architects or landscape architects, citing difficulty recruiting qualified candidates; the item was placed on first reading and retained in committee for revised language.
Strongsville City Council on Jan. 21 placed on first reading — and kept in committee for further work — an ordinance that would change the composition rules for the city’s Architectural Review Board by removing the requirement that two members be a registered architect and a landscape architect.
Council members and staff said the city has struggled for years to recruit licensed architects and landscape architects to serve on the board. Mr. Spring said the landscape-architect seat has been vacant for nine years and that practicing architects and landscape architects often face conflicts of interest because they do business in the city or appear before the board.
Mr. Spring told council that the current ordinance’s requirement makes it difficult to staff the board and that morning meeting times (the board typically begins at 8:30 a.m.) make it hard for practicing professionals to serve. “We just took out the requirement that they have to be an architect and landscape architect,” he said, explaining the intent is to give the mayor more flexibility to appoint qualified people — including retirees or people with related experience — while retaining council approval of mayoral appointments.
One council member suggested including language that expresses a nonbinding preference for an architect or landscape architect rather than an absolute requirement. Council asked staff to prepare a memo with recommended language (for example, stating a preference rather than a requirement) and to return the ordinance to planning committee for consideration before the next reading. The ordinance will remain on first reading in committee until council reviews that memo.
Council members emphasized that changing the wording would not eliminate the presence of non-city professionals on the board; rather, the change is intended to broaden the pool of eligible appointees so the board can maintain quorum and continue its work on development reviews. Staff identified existing board participants who provide technical expertise (engineering staff, the city planner, and registered forester Jennifer Milbrandt) and noted that council confirmation remains a check on mayoral appointments.
