Appearance Commission

Sir Walter Raleigh Awards for Community Appearance

The 2021 Sir Walter Raleigh Award nominations are now open! Please visit the Sir Walter Raleigh Awards webpage for more information and to access the nomination web form.

The Appearance Commission was established by City Council in 1973 to provide guidance, advice, and recommendations regarding the visual quality and aesthetic characteristics of the City of Raleigh. As of July 2020, the Appearance Commission also hears requests for Design Alternates from the City’s Unified Development Ordinance, acting as a quasi-judicial body. The commission consists of 15 members, the majority of whom have special training or experience in architecture, landscape architecture, horticulture, city planning, or related design fields. The members shall reside within the city limits or within the planning and zoning jurisdiction of the city.

The Commission also appoints standing committees to undertake special design-related outreach and education efforts such as the Sir Walter Raleigh Awards.

Meets

Current Agenda - August 5, 2021

1st & 3rd Thursday of each month
4:30 p.m.
The Appearance Commission hears Design Alternate requests at its first meeting of each month (the 1st Thursday of each month) and Administrative Alternate requests and other business at its second meeting of each month (the 3rd Thursday of each month).

Filing Calendar
Please see the Design Alternate Application for information regarding the deadline to submit Design Alternate requests.

Location

In-person
222 West Hargett Street, Raleigh Municipal Building, Council Chamber.

Appearance Commission public meetings will be broadcast live on RTN 11 and on our live streaming webpage. To watch past meetings, visit our video services page.

Agendas and Meeting Minutes
View on BoardDocs

Design Alternates

The Appearance Commission hears and decides requests for Design Alternates from the City’s Unified Development Ordinance. When hearing Design Alternates, the Appearance Commission sits as a quasi-judicial body and conducts an evidentiary hearing on the Design Alternate request.

The Appearance Commission is now accepting Design Alternate applications. The Commission began conducting evidentiary hearings on Design Alternate requests at its October 1, 2020, meeting. Among other requirements, to be placed on an agenda, a Design Alternate application must be submitted a minimum of 60 days prior to the meeting at which the application will be heard. More information regarding the application process can be found in the Design Alternate Application.

Design Committee

The Design Committee is a subcommittee with the purpose of discussing potential options for the Commission to present to the City Council in 2021 for Commission review of certain projects. The Design Committee currently meets in a virtual environment.

Current Agenda - February 12, 2021
Meeting Schedule: Meeting at 12 p.m.
Meeting Location: Virtual
Discussion Items:
Design review options for the Commission

Committee Assignments:

Will Gaskins
Jake Levitas
Christopher Roberts
Adam Walters