(a) ZONING MAP. The location and boundaries of the zoning districts are shown on the Zoning Map of the City of Wheeling. The zoning map, with all explanatory notes thereon and all amendments thereto, is hereby adopted and declared to be a part of this chapter. The zoning map shall be kept up-to-date and shall be on file in the City Clerk's office for the use and benefit of the public. Certified or endorsed copies of said map shall also be on file in the offices of the Economic and Community Development Department.
(b) ZONING MAP BOOK. In recognition of the difficulty of determining the zoning districts of certain properties as a result of the scale of the Zoning Map, the City hereby also adopts as a part of this chapter the book entitled City of Wheeling Zoning Map. Said book shall be kept up-to-date and shall be on file in the City Clerk's office for the use and benefit of the public. Copies of said book shall also be on file in the offices of the Economic and Community Development Department and the Building Inspector. In the event of a discrepancy between the Zoning Map described in subsection (a) above and the book containing the Zoning Map, the book shall prevail. Said book consists of:
(1) A title page,
(2) A page listing the zoning districts and designation symbols,
(3) An index dividing the City and adjoining areas into consecutively numbered segments, each numbered segment designating a particular area,
(4) The Zoning Map proper, consisting of pages numbered consecutively and corresponding to the numbered segments of the index map and setting out at a scale of 500 feet to one inch the area included in each numbered segment, and
(5) A map index by street names cross-referenced to the numbered segments of the map.
(c) ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS. Whenever the City Council amends the Zoning Map, the City Clerk shall notify the Economic and Community Development Department which shall cause the amendment to be made to the official copy of the Zoning Map and to the book of the Zoning Map. The Department shall provide copies of the amended map and the relevant amended map pages to the Building Inspector, and all other City agencies and departments requiring a zoning map.
(d) INTERPRETATION OF BOUNDARIES. Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of zoning districts as shown on the official Zoning Map, the following rules of interpretation shall apply:
(1) The zone boundary lines are intended generally to follow the center lines of streets, highways, public utility easements or watercourses, and railroad rights of way, the mean water level on the shore (the shore line) of rivers, streams and other waterways, existing lot lines, or City boundary lines, all as shown on the Zoning Map. In the event of change in the shore line, the boundary shall be construed as moving with the actual shore line.
(2) Where a zone boundary line does not follow such a line as described above, its position is shown on the Zoning Map by a specific dimension expressing its distance in feet, measured perpendicularly, from a street line or other boundary line as indicated. Distances not specifically indicated on the official Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map.
(3) If a zone boundary line does not follow an existing lot line but is within ten feet of an existing lot line, the lot line shall be deemed the zone boundary line.
(4) Where a zone boundary line follows a lot line, the lot line shall be that shown on the Assessor's map on the date of adoption of such boundary.
(5) If, after the use of the above rules and the official zoning map, the district classification of any property is in question, the Zoning Officer shall make the final determination. The decision of the Zoning Officer with respect to the officer's boundary interpretation may be appealed by the applicant to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(e) LOTS IN TWO OR MORE ZONING DISTRICTS OR INCORPORATED BODIES. Where a lot is divided by one or more district boundary lines (also known as a split lot), the following shall apply:
(1) Uses permitted in one district shall not extend into another district where they would not otherwise be permitted.
(2) Dimensional requirements shall be measured from the lot lines and not the zoning district lines.
(f) OVERLAY DISTRICTS. All regulations governing overlay districts are superimposed on the zoning districts listed above, wherever applicable. Where provisions governing overlay districts impose greater restrictions that those imposed by other applicable provisions of this chapter, the provisions of the overlay districts shall control.
(g) LANDS ANNEXED INTO THE CITY. All territory annexed to the City shall be zoned in the same manner as the contiguous territory inside the previous City limits until otherwise classified.