The Urban Design Review Board was established by City Council in August 1964 to advise the City manager on whether plans for private improvements conform with the principles of the Central Business District Plan as adopted by City Council in 1964 and as subsequently revised from time to time by City Council. The current Central Business District Plan is the Cincinnati 2000 Plan.
In the late 1960's, the Board's procedures were changed to simplify the review process. The revised procedures omitted review of technical aspects of building design, such as zoning code, building code, fire code and utility matters, which are adequately addressed by the appropriate City departments. The Board reviews projects as to the appropriateness of a project's design in relation to its urban context and to determine whether the architecture is of a quality commensurate with the City's aspirations in the Cincinnati 2000 Plan.
Urban design review is a contractual requirement in agreements between the City and developers involving sites sold or leased by the City within the Central Business District and the Central Riverfront. The City's right to review and approve the design of a project is a prerequisite for the City's financial participation in the project. Board review may also be required prior to the City granting street vacations, easements or other indirect forms of financial assistance to a project. The Board may review other projects as requested by the City Manager or the City Council. Major downtown public projects of the City, such as the Convention Center, are also submitted for the Board's review in support of the City's commitment to quality design in the Cincinnati 2000 Plan area.
The Board consists of four members: a local businessperson as chair and three architects. The architects have comprehensive experience in urban and architectural design and modest professional practices to avoid conflicts of interest. The City manager appoints the Board members based upon recommendations made by City staff, business, arts and community groups. Board members serve at the pleasure of the City Manager. The chairperson serves as an unpaid volunteer. The architect members are modestly compensated under professional service contracts with the City's Department of Economic Development. The current Board members are Lee Carter, Chairman (retired marketing executive and former President of the Fine Arts Institute), Jay Chatterjee (Dean of the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, University of Cincinnati), Hayden May (Dean of the School of Fine Arts, Miami University and practicing architect), and David Niland (Professor of Architecture and practicing architect). Mr. May is currently on sabbatical from the Board during an extended tour of Europe. John Senhauser, FAIA, has been appointed to serve as a Board member during Mr. May's absence. Mark McKillip, the Principal Architect of the City's Office of Architecture and Urban Design, serves as Secretary to the Board. The Secretary arranges design review meetings, prepares and issues meeting minutes, and coordinates City design approvals as stipulated under development agreements.
The Board meets with the project's architect and developer as prescribed by the design and development schedules of the projects being reviewed. The Board reviews the design of a project at three major stages: schematic design, design development (or preliminary design), and final construction documents. City development agreements contain specific provisions stipulating what information is to be submitted for review at each stage of a project. The Board issues meeting minutes in which it makes recommendations to the City Manager. The City Manager is the official City approval authority under City development agreements.
