The Design Review Commission is a three-member volunteer board appointed by the mayor. The DRC is charged with reviewing non-residential and multifamily residential:
- development
- renovation projects
- entrances
- signage
- demolitions
Purpose of the Design Review Commission
The Commission is charged with ensuring that the design of construction, repair, or rehabilitation projects in the town are completed in a way that enhances and does not adversely affect the character of the Town of Walden and promotes design that is in keeping with the most recently adopted Town of Walden Plan.
Southeast Tennessee Development supports the Design Review Commission by serving as staff and providing recommendations.
The Town of Walden’s Design Guidelines:
- Maintain and enhance the property values and taxable property in the town.
- Provide for the protection and preservation of buildings, structures and places of historic value.
- Protect the landowners from potential negative impacts that commercial developments may have on the environment and on the quality of life currently enjoyed by residents.
- Create an interconnected pattern of streets and blocks within the Town Center
- Support a mix of uses in the Town Center, and compatible commercial and mixed‑residential uses outside the Town Center
- Encourage a variety of housing types to meet diverse community needs
- Include usable formal and informal open spaces
- Provide a comfortable environment for pedestrians and cyclists through appropriate building placement, sidewalks, and street design
- Protect and respects the unique environmental features of Walden
Process for Review
Step 1: Contact Walden Town Hall
To begin the development review process, applicants should contact Walden Town Hall to schedule a preliminary meeting with the Town Administrator, Mariah Prescott. Because application submittal requirements vary based on the project’s scope and complexity, this meeting is an important opportunity to clarify expectations and discuss necessary documents. During the review, you will receive the appropriate application materials along with a detailed list of submittal requirements. The Town Administrator will also discuss the applicable application deadline and dates for the DRC meeting.
While the Development Review Committee (DRC) convenes on an as-needed basis, its meetings are generally held at 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the fourth Thursday of each month. All DRC meetings take place at Walden Town Hall, located at 1836 Taft Highway.
STEP 2: Schedule Preliminary Review
This step is highly recommended as it saves time for the applicant and helps to ensure that the DRC has appropriate information to review. Once you have become familiar with the general requirements of the property, you should develop a basic proposal and schedule second appointment with the Town Administrator. At this meeting, potential problems and suggested changes will be discussed that will bring the proposal closer to a form that will meet the requirements of the Walden DRC.
STEP 3: Submit Application, fee and supporting materials to staff
Check the calendar for submission deadlines. Use the Submission Checklist to ensure all materials are submitted in the correct format and quantity. The Design Review Application is located on page 58 of the Town of Walden Design Review Standards, and the Submission Checklist is on page 59.
STEP 4: Attend the Design Review Commission meeting
You or your representative need to attend the meeting to present an overview of the project and answer questions. If presenting a sign for review, the applicant or representative must be authorized to make changes. If not, the review will be postponed, and a new meeting will be scheduled. If this is an architect-designed project, it may prove helpful to have the architect present. Consult with the Town Administrator for guidance.
Design Review Commission’s Authority
The Design Review Commission’s authority is granted by the Town Charter and the State of Tennessee, which allows municipalities to create a Design Review Commission and adopt design standards for these types of developments. The Commission’s authority is subordinate to the powers of a municipal planning commission as outlined in Tennessee Code Title 13, Chapter 4.
Appeals
Any property owner affected by the Town’s design guidelines may appeal a decision of the Design Review Commission to the Planning Commission.
(Acts 1991, ch. 154; Acts 1995, ch. 13; Acts 1998, ch. 621; Acts 1998, ch. 1126; Acts 2006, ch. 796; Acts 2011, ch. 453; Acts 2014, ch. 927.)
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Tom Bartoo
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Chairman |
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Joey Riles
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Vice-Chairman |
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Fred Decosimo
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Secretary |