The Village of Kensington Board of Trustees loosened the requirements for Architectural Review Board decisions on minor building projects Wednesday, passing a law that allows the board to make summary judgments on some applications.
The amendment to village code allows the chairperson to summarily review any application for “minor alterations or modifications” of existing property, without the detailed documentation, photographs and required landscape surveys mandated for bigger projects.
Previous law only allowed such judgments for changes that did not affect the property’s external appearance.
“[The law was passed] to streamline the process by which residents can more easily improve their homes,” Village of Kensington Mayor Susan Lopatkin said in an e-mail. “A full architectural review board is a more involved process than summary review. “
The board voted unanimously for the law, and there were were no comments raised at Wednesday’s public hearing, according to Lopatkin.
The law was scheduled to be discussed at last months meeting, but was tabled so that the board could futher clarify its language.
Reach reporter Dan Glaun by e-mail at dglaun@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x203. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow1 and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
