(a) Purpose and Scope. It is the purpose of the RH Residential Historic District to conserve the value of family living in this historic area and to preserve the historic character of the buildings located therein for predominantly single family but with occasional two-family homes.
(b) Principal Permitted Uses.
(1) Residential.
A. One-family detached dwellings.
B. In the Julia-Ann Square Historic District only, new two-family dwelling.
C. In the Julia-Ann Square Historic District only, conversion into a two-family dwelling of an existing one-family detached dwelling having a gross floor area of not less than 2,000 square feet for a two-story dwelling and not less than 2,500 square feet for a three-story dwelling, the gross floor area to be computed exclusive of the basement in any case, and a gross floor area for each dwelling unit of not less than 850 square feet.
D. The growing of vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees and shrubs when not primarily for gain.
E. Public utility services, underground recommended.
F. No commercial, office or business uses whatsoever are permitted, which shall be deemed to prohibit in the Parkersburg High School/Washington Avenue Historic District temporary or transitional housing for charitable or public purposes, without prior approval of the Architectural Review Board.
(c) Principal Conditional Uses. When authorized by the Board of Zoning Appeals in accordance with Section 1329.05(b).
(1) Recreational. Parks, playgrounds, community centers, publicly owned and operated, including such structures as are necessary for their operation and concessions in keeping with the character of the neighborhood, provided, however, that such structures be at least thirty feet from any abutting property line of property in any Residential District.
(2) Institutional.
A. Extension of the First United Methodist Church building in compliance with the Architectural Review Guidelines. Such extension, if approved, need not comply with the parking requirements in Section 1363.02(h)(6).
B. Parkersburg High School, its structures and grounds are excluded from these provisions.
C. First Christian Church as it exists on the date of the adoption of this article. Any changes, modifications, or change of use of the facility shall require the prior approval of the Architectural Review Board.
(3) Commercial. (Applies to Parkersburg High School/Washington Avenue Historic District only.) Existing commercial operations shall be permitted. However, any change of use of a facility shall require prior approval of the Architectural Review Board.
(d) Accessory Permitted Uses. An accessory use customarily incidental to a principal permitted used, included the following:
(1) The leasing of rooms in a single-family dwelling by the occupant to not more than two roomers or boarders, provided that off-street parking shall be provided for each such roomer or boarder and that such parking is not located in the front yard or sidewalk.
(2) Private swimming pools provided that:
A. Every pool, building or paved area shall be at least twenty feet from every abutting property line.
B. The pool shall be constructed in rear of the yard area.
C. Any lighting shall be constructed in such a manner as not to radiate beyond the property on which the pool is constructed and not cast direct light on the adjacent properties.
D. A visual screen and fencing to a minimum height of six feet shall enclose the pool area.
(3) Signs subject to the following regulations:
A. Any sign which is commercial in nature that advertises the sale of a commercial product is prohibited.
B. A sign which uses flashing lights, is rotating or moving or appears to be moving is prohibited.
C. Any permanent sign shall be approved by the Architectural Review Board.
D. Signs that are commonly referred to as advertising billboards are prohibited.
E. Nonilluminated real estate signs erected as ground signs not to exceed nine square feet in area shall be permitted.
F. Nonilluminated instructional, identification, bulletin board and announcement signs, erected as ground or wall signs, subject to the following limitations:
1. One identification sign, not exceeding two square feet in area, shall be permitted for identification of a residential structure.
2. Identification signs, not exceeding ten square feet in area, shall be permitted to identify the boundaries of the District.
G. Political signs pertaining to the election of one or more persons to public office or to one or more public issues shall be permitted. Signs shall not be placed in such a manner as to constitute a safety hazard.
A. All off-street parking or unloading facilities shall be paved with either concrete or a bituminous surface, as specified by the City Engineer. The use of brick paving is recommended.
B. Such off-street parking or unloading facilities shall be attractively landscaped with grass, trees or shrubbery in order to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the District.
C. Off-street parking facilities shall not be located in any front yard or on any sidewalk.
D. As applies to Parkersburg High School/Washington Avenue Historic District only, ample off-street parking or unloading facilities shall be provided for any and all recreational vehicles, including but not limited to RVs, boats, trailers, etc.
(5) Accessory building-structure, built with or after the construction of the principal buildings, including one private garage and uses customarily incidental to any principal permitted uses, when located on the same lot and not involving the conduct of any businesses, shall be permitted subject to the following limitations: Garage space may be increased provided that the area of the lot shall contain not less than 1,500 square feet for each vehicle or trailer stored. The materials used for the building-structure in the Parkersburg High School/Washington Avenue Historic District must first be approved by the Architectural Review Board. Detached buildings and other structures, such as satellite dishes, etc. must not be located in the front yard. All buildings and structures other than garages must not be visible from the front.
(6) Fences under six feet in height. A fence may, however, be erected over six feet in height if approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals after finding that the fence shall not adversely affect adjoining properties and shall protect abutting properties or prevent trespassing. In no case may a fence or enclosure wall exceed three feet in height within forty feet of a street intersection.
(7) Satellite dishes. No satellite dish may be constructed or attached to any structure in the Parkersburg High School/Washington Avenue Historic District so as to be visible from the front of the structure.
(8) "Bed and breakfast inn" means an owner occupied, private residence which provides lodging for no more than five guest families at the same time and may serve food only to the overnight guests.
A bed and breakfast inn shall be permitted only in the Julia-Ann Square Historic District if it meets all of the following conditions:
A. May advertise as a bed & breakfast inn only, not as a restaurant, motel or hotel.
B. Rooms utilized for sleeping shall be part of the primary residential structure and shall not have been specifically constructed or remodeled for rental purposes.
C. The exterior appearance of the structure shall not be altered from its single family character.
D. There shall be no separate or additional kitchen facility for the guests.
E. The bed and breakfast inn shall be an incidental and secondary use of a dwelling.
F. A list shall be maintained of all guests and their place of residence on a yearly basis.
G. One additional off-street parking space shall be provided for each bedroom that is to be utilized by the bed and breakfast inn. No parking facility shall be permitted within the front yard of said residence unless prior approval of the Architectural Review Board and the Board of Zoning Appeals. Loading and unloading space shall be permitted within the existing front entrance.
H. All applicable City business licenses shall be required and shall not be transferrable to a new owner of subject property.
I. One sign may be erected on the premises, not to exceed eight square feet in size. No single dimension of the sign shall exceed four feet. The sign shall compliment the style of the dwelling, i.e., historic structures shall have an historic-style sign. The sign structure shall be landscaped. Prior approval must be granted by the Architectural Review Board.
J. The bed and breakfast inn use is subject to review at any time and may be revoked after a hearing by the Board of Zoning Appeals that the use has become detrimental to the surrounding neighborhood. The Development Department shall be the applicant for submission to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(e) Accessory Conditional Uses. (Applies to Parkersburg High School/Washington Avenue Historic District only.) Office occupations conducted as home occupations, subject to the following limitations:
(1) The office of a beautician or a member of a recognized profession such as a doctor, dentist or musician, provided the office is in the home of such person and there is no display visible from the street, nor signboard used to advertise such use.
(2) No special outside entrance shall be provided or used in connection with the office occupation.
(3) The total floor area devoted to such use shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit, and not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the gross floor area of any story shall be devoted to such use.
(4) There shall be no production, storage or sale of merchandise or stock in trade except the written or fine arts materials customarily incidental to office occupations as limited in subparagraph (e)(1) hereof.
(5) There shall be no instruction on the premises for more than two students or trainees at one time.
(6) Such office occupation shall be limited to remunerative personal service which is of value primarily for the knowledge, talent or skill which can be communicated on the premises in oral, written or fine arts form.
(7) No mechanical or electrical equipment, other than that customarily used for household purposes, shall be permitted which has a capacity of over one horsepower or requires electrical service over 100 amperes.
(f) Requirements. The following requirements shall be observed except as modified, thereinbefore, in accordance with the provisions of Article 1361.
(1) Maximum height: Two and one-half stories or thirty-five feet.
(2) Minimum lot area: 6,000 square feet in Julia-Ann Square Historic District; 6,500 square feet in Parkersburg High School/Washington Avenue Historic District; 5,000 square feet in Avery Historic District.
(3) Minimum lot area per dwelling unit: 3,000 square feet.
(4) Minimum yards:
A. Minimum front yard: twenty-five feet; twenty feet for Avery Historic District.
B. Minimum side yard:
Stories | Least Width (Feet) | Sum of Least Width (Feet) |
1 | 5 | 12 |
2 or 2.5 | 6 | 14 |
C. Minimum rear yard:
1. One story: thirty feet
2. Two or two and one-half stories: thirty-five feet; thirty feet for Avery Historic District.
(5) Accessory building yard requirements.
A. Side yard: twelve feet combined side yard, five feet minimum not to exceed the width of the existing principal structure.
B. Rear yard: five feet.
C. Maximum height requirements: twelve feet.
D. There shall be only one accessory building-structure in the rear yard.
(6) All of the above minimum requirements as well as the maximum height allowed shall be waived for reconstruction in which case a building may be reconstructed using no less than the minimum setbacks of the original building and using no more than the original height.
(Ord. 0-1635. Passed 9-24-19.)