CAHH Design Review Guidelines
DRC Introduction - Philosophy and Overview

A prime quality attracting us and sustaining us in our Hollin Hills community over the years has been its unique design character-a virtue that both enhances our dally lives and contributes to the value of our property. Our basic premise is that Hollin Hills should never be permitted to become just another suburban subdivision.

As the Guidelines Study Committee began its work, we realized that, as a group, we shared this common philosophy. We felt that this philosophy was an extension of the commonly held beliefs of our neighbors.

The next step was to determine the means by which this philosophy could be revitalized and updated with a more comprehensive understanding of the community values on the critical design questions.

The Guidelines Committee accepts the presence, need and importance of the protective covenant and its enforcement. In addition the only acceptable means of utilizing the covenant to achieve its purpose fairly, consistently and comprehensively is the use of a community Design Review Committee (DRC).

The protective covenants and the DRC process, despite their long-established legal basis, will only succeed with broad-­based community support. It is the opinion of this committee, that such support can only be created and maintained through a continuing process, which tests community values and opinions on key design questions and review committee operations and adjusts the implementation of the covenant accordingly. The specific purpose then of this committee is a first step in that process.

With this in mind, considerable effort was given to surveying community opinion on basic architectural review issues and applying these results in revised guidelines and recommendations. Community input, in addition to the survey results, included comments at CAHH meetings and written suggestions addressed to the Committee. Based on these inputs and committee discussions, the following conceptual framework evolved which we hope accurately reflects the views of the majority of Hollin Hills homeowners. This framework includes:

Some type of architectural and/or design review, primarily of additions to existing homes, is necessary to maintain and/or enhance property values and to maintain the quality of our environment, i.e. the attractive ambiance which results from a unique combination of architecture, topography, woodlands and landscape.

Maintaining the quality of life normally associated with living in Hollin Hills involves some matters which are not the proper subject for a Guidelines Study Committee but, nevertheless, may require community attention, e.g. landscape, unkempt yards, ongoing buildings and site maintenance practices.

The basic Goodman design features, i.e. roof shapes, wall types, window shapes, color palettes, siting concepts and construction details should be used as the starting point for new design which can be sympathetically adapted to meet contemporary needs and technological advances while not maintaining complete adherence to the original design.

The design review function and process should be as open and facilitative as possible. This can be accomplished by providing homeowners with information and assistance, creating a community awareness, starting the review process at an earlier conceptual stage, and by providing the DRC with both subjective and objective guidelines with which to function.

Greater efforts toward avoiding and resolving grievances between homeowners and the DRC must be made by providing an additional avenue for appeal as well as changing the image and substance of the DRC's role from one of adversarial control to one of advice and control. The DRC should basically be seen as assisting homeowners in developing residential designs that reflect the applicant's individual needs and desires as well as the community's objectives.

The composition of the DRC should reflect a broader representation of the community with professional design membership in balance with membership at large.

Specific design features of critical importance identified by the community are building scale, siting, and materials.

The Design Review process and the covenants which support that process are essential elements in ensuring that Hollin Hills remains a visually attractive place in which to live and in maintaining our property values.