B. DESIGN INTENT
FCHOA Purchaser's Handbook - Revision Date: 2021-01-10
1. The Architectural Review Committee has the right to reject any site, building or landscaping plans, and specifications which are not desirable in the judgment of a majority of the Committee, reasonably exercised, including purely aesthetic reasons. The Committee is not held to precedents from previous approvals or construction. The Committee continuously evaluates the demonstrated effect of previous approvals and in some cases will adopt policy to not permit repetitive designs or techniques that are deemed inconsistent with the ARC’s objectives. The Committee has no intention of acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner. The Committee acts in a manner intended to preserve the quality and harmony of external design of proposed new structures, alterations, and additions as they relate to the surrounding neighborhood. Visual impact of the structures from adjacent or neighboring properties may be evaluated, as well as the appearance from the street and the golf course. However, the waiver of an architectural design element for the reason of not being visible to others will not normally be considered by the ARC.
2. The design intent at Ford’s Colony is to harmoniously blend traditional architectural styles that are indigenous to the Colonial Virginia area. The following styles are considered appropriate and range chronologically from the late 1600’s to the mid 1800’s:
a. Colonial(1670- 1820)
b. Georgian(1735- 1790)
c. Classical Revival (Jefferson)(1770- 1830)
d. Federal (Adam)(1790- 1820)
e. Greek Revival(1820- 1860)
3. Architectural styles should be as authentic as practical. Mixtures of architectural styles in one building will not normally be approved. For example, a traditional home of the Georgian period should respect the details and disciplines of that period and not include design details from other eras.
4. Modern technology, building codes, and lifestyles necessitate architectural adaptations from the traditional styles listed above. In order to approve homes that harmoniously blend with the development intent, and are essentially colonial in character, the ARC will place emphasis on traditional design details, such as: exterior building materials used for support, siding and trim; window type, size, and the appearance of true divided light panels (muntins); architectural balance and simplicity; roof material, composition, mass, and pitch; chimney material and style; and colors. The use of materials that may reduce maintenance is an important consideration, but is subordinate to the development design intent.