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Vienna architectural review seeks new lighting code; outdoor-dining rules adopted but underused
Summary
The Board of Architectural Review told the council it handled 83 applications in a year and is working with consultants on a commercial lighting code and design standards (about 75% complete). Staff said the project will produce a code for Council and guidelines for the BAR; only three restaurants have used the new outdoor-dining process so far.
The Board of Architectural Review told the Town Council on Nov. 17 that it processed 83 applications in the past year and is working with consultants on a new commercial lighting code and complementary design standards for signs and lighting. Patty Hanley, who addressed the council about the board’s annual report, said the volume of reviews has been high: “83 applications in 1 year.”
Charmaine Abayed, a planner and the board’s liaison, told the council consultants are about three-quarters finished with the lighting code and standards and that the work includes separate design guidance for lighting and signs. “We are about I think they're about 75% of the way done with those standards,” she said.
Town staff said the effort will result in two distinct products: a code the council will review and a set of guidelines the Board of Architectural Review will use. “So there are 2 products... and the key 1 that you'll review is the code,” the director said.
The BAR also reviewed newly adopted outdoor-dining standards. The board visited Alexandria during the drafting process and adopted rules in April; the standards became effective April 7. Board members and staff said the streamlined process has seen limited uptake: three restaurants have completed the outdoor-dining process since adoption, and several other applicants needed to go before the BAR because their proposed colors did not match the approved palette. Patty Hanley said the standards give applicants spacing and planter guidelines that helped one business — Pizza Vienna — revise its proposal for approval and safety.
Councilmembers praised the BAR’s work and urged care in balancing brighter, modern lighting with neighborhood impacts; one councilmember described recent commercial lighting as “blindingly bright” and said simple shielding reduced glare. Council discussion also flagged new residential, permanent LED holiday lighting as an emerging issue staff should monitor.
Council direction: staff and consultants will finish the code and guidelines and return them to Council for consideration. No formal vote was taken at the work session.
What’s next: staff expects to return final drafts of the code and BAR guidelines to the council or BAR when consultant work is complete.
