Architectural Review Board Committee
The goal of the Wild Heron Architectural Review Board Committee (ARB) is to protect and enhance the community’s property values by assisting owners through the complex, but rewarding, process of planning a new home.
By applying the Standards and Guidelines set forth in accordance with the Associations’ Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions, the ARB strives to foster a community that is aesthetically pleasing and conforms to the overall vision of the community. They govern proposed homes, homes under construction, and existing homes; and it requires each home to be maintained in a manner that complies with these Guidelines.
The Standards and Guidelines can assist your architect, landscape architect, and builder during the design, construction, or improvement stages of your Wild Heron residence. The actual ‘review process’ provides a systematic review for all construction and landscaping requiring ARB approval.
The design guidelines can neither provide all the answers nor guarantee ideal solutions for every situation. Nevertheless, as questions arise concerning your building plans, our staff and the ARB itself will assist you. We encourage you to participate in presentations made by your Architect, Builder, or Landscape Architect to avoid miscommunications and delays.
The first steps in obtaining the necessary approvals for the construction of a home are Architectural Review Board Committee approval and the subsequent issuance of a Bay County Building Permit.
Careful consideration should be given to selecting a qualified architect with whom you can easily share your ideas. A Wild Heron ‘approved architect’ knows how to work within the review process and furnish the necessary design details in a manner that allows the ARB to make informed suggestions and decisions. Hiring an experienced, qualified architect is a wise financial decision that ultimately makes the construction process flow more smoothly and quite possibly, a higher home value.
We first encourage you to study the configuration of your prospective building site as that is a major determinant of floor plans. Then factor in your site’s existing trees, vegetation, and topography around it. Study your neighbor’s architecture. And finally, notice how your property interacts with the diverse natural environment. These are smart steps to take prior to starting your design. Your goal is to create a home with a strong sense of identity for you and an attractive and harmonious addition for your neighbors.
Communities that adopt and enforce a high standard of design often create the most desirable neighborhoods in which people wish to reside. The overall purpose then of the ARB and the Standards and Guidelines is to encourage quality design and construction that is on a level of quality appropriate to the upscale community of Wild Heron. We encourage your questions and comments as we work together.
New Build Process
The Wild Heron design review process for a new residence consists of a series of up to four (4) meetings between the Property Owner, the Architect and the Wild Heron Architectural Review Board (ARB). The process starts with an informal introductory meeting and ends with the successful completion of home construction. The ARB meets on the second Thursday of every month. Applications are due one week prior to that meeting in order for ARB staff to administratively review the materials before being presented to the ARB.
Please note: Larger more complex new construction applications may take several months to review over the course of multiple meetings.
New Construction – Review Process Steps
1. Pre-Design Meeting:
Prior to the preparation of any materials for formal ARB review, the Owner and consultant(s) may wish to meet with the Wild Heron ARB staff and one member of the Review Board for a pre-design meeting. The purpose of this step is to provide the Owner with introductory information, which will establish the overall intent of regulations, restrictions and/or special considerations for the particular lot or area involved. This step is for the benefit of the Owner and their Architect. Pre-Design Meetings are scheduled before or after regularly scheduled ARB meeting dates; please contact the ARB coordinator to schedule this meeting.
2. Conceptual Plan Review:
The purpose of the conceptual plan review in Wild Heron is to provide the Owner and their Architect with early feedback from the ARB on the proposed design of the residence and has the secondary benefit of identifying any potential conflicts or opportunities apparent between the proposed design and the Design Guidelines. This meeting takes place at a regularly scheduled meeting date, but does not require a formal application or fee. A conceptual site plan, floor plans and at least one conceptual elevation are to be submitted to the ARB staff at least one (1) week prior to a scheduled meeting date, at which the plans will be presented by the Applicant. Areas of particular concern should be highlighted for the ARB to review and comment on. No formal action will be taken by the ARB at this step.
3. Preliminary Plan Review:
The Applicant is required to submit to the ARB for review a formal Preliminary Plan package. This package is expected to adequately convey existing site conditions, constraints, building orientation and design, vehicular and pedestrian access, the proposed use of exterior materials and colors and a conceptual landscape plan. Preliminary Plan submittals must be submitted at least one (1) week before the scheduled meeting of the ARB. In addition, the Applicant is required to stake the location of proposed building corners on site for review by the ARB at the scheduled meeting. After the Applicant submits all required application materials and fees, the ARB staff will review the Preliminary Plan package for completeness and conformance with the Design Guidelines. If additional information is required or the ARB staff recognizes issues or concerns with the proposed plans, staff will contact the Applicant prior to the scheduled meeting. The Applicant will be notified that they are on the upcoming ARB scheduled meeting. The Applicant is expected to attend the meeting to present the Preliminary Plans to the Board. The ARB will take formal action on the Preliminary Plans at this meeting. The Applicant will receive a communication detailing the results of the ARB meeting within ten (10) working days following the meeting.
4. Final Plan Review:
Within one year of Preliminary Plan approval, the Applicant may submit a Final Plan package for review by the ARB. The Applicant is expected to provide all information necessary to reflect the design of the proposed building(s), landscape or other features requiring the approval of the ARB. All architectural plans are to be prepared by a licensed Florida Architect. Final Plan submittals must be submitted at least one (1) week before the scheduled meeting of the ARB. After the Applicant submits all required application materials and fees, the ARB staff will review the Final Plan package for completeness and conformance with the Design Guidelines. If additional information is required or the ARB staff recognizes issues or concerns with the proposed plans, staff will contact the Applicant prior to the scheduled meeting date. The ARB staff will notify the applicant that their project is on the upcoming scheduled meeting. The Applicant is expected to attend the ARB meeting to present the Final Plans to the Board. The ARB will take formal action on the Final Plans at this meeting. The Applicant will receive a communication detailing the results of the ARB meeting within ten (10) working days following the meeting.
5. Final Working Drawing Submission:
Upon approval of Final Plans, the Applicant is required to prepare and submit two (2) sets of Final Working Drawings and one digital copy to the ARB staff prior to submitting to Bay County Building Division for a building permit. The contents of the Final Working Drawings are expected to be consistent with the approved Final Plans, while responding to any conditions or revisions imposed by the ARB at the Final Plan review. The ARB staff will review the Final Working Drawings and contact the Applicant within one (1) week from the date that the plans are received. If the Final Working Drawings are consistent with the approved Final Plans and all conditions of Final Plan approval are addressed, the ARB will stamp two sets of plans for the Applicant to submit to Bay County for a building permit. The ARB will keep one set of the Final Working Drawings for our records. Upon receiving a building permit, the Applicant must comply with all of the pre-construction requirements and is required to commence construction of the residence within one (1) year following Final Plan approval.