§ 12A.2. Definitions.

12A.2.1 Words not defined herein shall be construed to have the meaning given in article III of The Zoning Resolution of Fulton County, or, by Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. The words "shall" and "must" are mandatory, and the words "may" and "should" are permissive. As used in this resolution, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

Appearance. The outward aspect that is visible to the public.

Appropriate. Fitting to the context of a site, neighborhood or community.

Architectural concept. The basic aesthetic idea of a structure, or group of structures, including the site, signs, buildings and landscape development that produces the architectural character.

Architectural feature. A significant element of a structure or site.

Attractive. Having qualities that arouse satisfaction and pleasure in numerous, but not necessarily all, observers.

Building. A building is a structure created to shelter any form of human activity, including but not limited to, a house, store, barn, church, hotel.

Certificate of endorsement (COE). A document evidencing support of a material change in the appearance of a property located within an overlay district by the person or board designated within an overlay district.

Cohesiveness. Unity of composition among elements of a structure or among structures, and their landscape development.

Compatibility. Harmony in appearance of architectural features in the same vicinity.

Design review board (DRB). A panel which, when appointed by the Board of Commissioners, consists of seven members appointed to consider applications within a specific overlay district.

Designation or designated. A decision by the Board of Commissioners of Fulton County, Georgia, wherein a property or district is declared an overlay district.

External design feature. The general arrangement of any portion of structures or landscaping, including the type, and texture of the materials, the type of roof, windows, doors, lights, signs, and fixtures of portions which are open to the public view.

Exterior architectural features. The architectural style, general design and general arrangement of the exterior of a structure and site, including but not limited to the kind or texture of the building material and the type and style of all windows, doors, signs, facade, landscaping and other architectural fixtures, features, details, or elements relative thereto.

Geographic area. Land area subject to overlay district regulations.

Harmony. A quality that represents an attractive arrangement of parts, as in an arrangement of various architectural elements.

Landscape. Plant materials, topography and other physical elements combined in relation to one another and to structures including pavement.

Logic of design. Widely accepted principles and criteria in the solution of design problems.

Material change in appearance. A change in a structure or a parking lot within an overlay district that exceeds ordinary maintenance or repair (defined below), and requires either a sign permit, building permit or land disturbance permit such as, but not limited to:

1.

The erection, alteration, restoration, addition or removal of any structure (including signs) or parking lot;

2.

Relocation of a sign or building;

3.

Commencement of excavation; or

4.

A change in the location of advertising visible from the public right-of-way.

Ordinary maintenance or repair. Exempt from inclusion in "Material Change in Appearance" defined above. Ordinary maintenance or repair of any exterior of any structure, parking lot or sign in or on an overlay district property to correct deterioration, decay or damage, or to sustain the existing form, and that does not involve a material change in outer design, material, or appearance thereof. Painting, reroofing, resurfacing, replacement of a broken sign face and other similar types of ordinary maintenance shall be deemed ordinary maintenance and repair.

Overlay district. A geographically definable area, possessing a significant concentration or linkage of sites, buildings, structures, objects or landscapes, including the adjacent area necessary for the proper treatment thereof, united by plan and/or physical development. An overlay district shall further mean an area designated by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners as such.

Overlay property. An individual site, structure, object or landscape, including the adjacent area necessary for the proper continuity thereof, contained within an overlay district.

Proportion. Balanced relationship of parts of a building, signs and other structures, and landscape to each other and to the whole.

Scale. Proportional relationships of the size of parts to one another and to humans.

Street hardware. Objects other than buildings that are part of the streetscape. Examples are: street light fixtures, utility poles, traffic lights and their fixtures, benches, litter containers, planting containers, fire hydrants, etc.

Streetscape. The appearance and organization along a street of buildings, paving, plantings, street hardware and miscellaneous structures.