DRPC Application

Download the DRPC Review Application

The deadline to submit applications is 21 days before the meeting date by 3:00 p.m. with no exceptions (see schedule below). If applications are received but not considered complete, they will be returned to the applicant and not scheduled on a DRPC agenda until they are made complete by the applicant.

APPLICANTS, PLEASE NOTE FOR SUBMISSIONS

• Only three (3) printed copies of the application are necessary for submission to the Department of Land Use and Planning, NOT TEN (10) as it used to be.
  
  
• In addition to the three (3) printed record copies, a readily accessible digital copy of the completed application with all images, drawings, etc. that can be pulled into Adobe PDF MUST BE PROVIDED by the applicant at the time of submission of the application for distribution to the Commission and staff members for analysis / discussion on screen at the meeting.

The Commission will continue to use a digital format that makes the information available to Commissioners and the public alike in Zoom meetings (or an equal platform). The applicant must be prepared to “screen share” and narrate their presentation at the meeting.

Meetings

DRPC meetings are always on the 3rd Wednesday of the calendar month (with occasional exceptions where the date falls on a civic or religious holiday).

The Submission Deadline is for totally complete application packets for cases requested to be considered at the next regular DRPC meeting. It is set for 3 weeks before the date of the meeting so that staff can analyze the material submitted, ask any questions of the applicants should there be missing information required to fully describe the request, conduct any due diligence research for clarification of the case, and then write a proper analysis of the requested action containing the staff recommendation for acceptance, modifications, or denial of the proposed work.

Staff analyses are based on the Wilmington City Code, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, Staff, and previous case actions allowed by DRPC.

All building actions (new construction, demolition, modification to existing structures) for buildings within City Historic Districts or Neighborhood Conservation Districts must undergo this review process.

Meetings may be either in person, via Zoom, or a hybrid.

About the Commission

The Commission meets monthly to review the effects of the following types of actions on historic architecture within the 12 City Historic Districts, the two C-6 Zoning Districts, or the one Neighborhood Conservation District:

• Exterior Building Alterations
• Demolitions (including demolitions that are in National Register districts or determined eligible for National Register districts)
• New Construction
• Fencing
• Landscaping (if plans include changes in topography)

Review is initiated by permit application to the Department of Licenses and Inspections or through the Demolition Review procedures of the Planning Department. An analysis prepared by the Planning Department is presented to the Design Review and Preservation Commission and their recommendations are forwarded to the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections in the form of a resolution. The Design Review and Preservation Commission generally meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. There is no fee for this review. For more information, call (302) 576-3113 or (302) 576-3118.

City Code: ARTICLE III. DIVISION 2. - DESIGN REVIEW AND PRESERVATION COMMISSION

Members

The Design Review and Preservation Commission is composed of seven members - one ex officio member of the City Planning Commission or an alternate, and six members appointed by the mayor to serve at the pleasure of the mayor.

The following members currently sit on the commission.

Chair: Peter Von Glahn

Leo Lynch

Jay Macklin

David Ross

Toren Williams

Peter Zoltowski

Paul Qvale