Proposed Westminster Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone worksheet
Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zones to be considered by the Westminster mayor and common council on November 8, 2010.
According to the city of Westminster website, “The State of Maryland requires comprehensive plans to be updated every six years. The 2009 Comprehensive Plan Update began in October 2007 followed by the coordination of the first Westminster resident survey in the summer of 2008.
“The City hosted a series of community workshops in the fall of 2008 that offered residents the opportunity to voice their ideas about the future of their community. In the winter of 2009, the planning staff combined the results of the survey and the feedback from the workshops, to create the 2008 Community Vision Report.
“This report served as the base of the Comprehensive Plan Update process. Each element in the 2009 Comprehensive Plan begins with a description from the
(c) 2008 Community Vision Report.”
One the zoning enhancements being considered is Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone for properties currently zones R-7,500 and R-10,000, which arguably comprises the bulk of where folks live in Westminster.
Recently, the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zones came before the
(d) Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission in the form of two specific legislative initiatives which include: Zoning Text Amendment No. ZTA 10-3 – “Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone” and Sectional Zoning Map Amendment No. SMA 10-1 – “
Belle Grove Square Neighborhood” and “
Willis Street Neighborhood.”
The purpose of the public hearing on October 14 to hear citizen comments and subsequently deliberate for approval or disapproval of Zoning Text Amendment No. ZTA 10-3 and and Sectional Zoning Map Amendment No. SMA 10-1.
The ad noted, “The proposed text and sectional map amendments are available for public inspection at Winchester West, 56 West Main Street, Westminster, MD during normal business hours in the office of the Zoning Administrator.”
A public hearing notice document was also placed on the city’s website, dated September 30, 2010 that indicated that the
Westminster mayor and common council would hold a public hearing on November 8 on Zoning Text Amendment No. ZTA 10-3 which was subsequently introduced at
(g) the October 11 common council meeting as Ordinance 816. The Ordinance is sponsored by councilmembers Greg Pecoraro and Dr. Robert Wack.
Section 164-45.25 introduces, “The Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone (NP Zone) is intended to provide for the preservation of the historic character and physical setting of the city’s traditional neighborhoods by promoting residential uses and directing more intense uses to other suitable locations.
“The Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone is a mapped zone which is superimposed over properties included in the R-7,500 residential zone and R-10,000 residential in certain traditional residential neighborhoods. Once properties are included in the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone, any development or use of such properties are subject to its provisions.”
However, a specific area can only be placed into, and thereafter subject to the provisions of the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone by way of a Sectional map Amendment according to “Procedure” section, 164-45.31, of the proposed changes in Chapter 164.
Moreover, under the “Inclusion of Additional Neighborhoods section, 164-45.32, of the proposed changes, “The city will partner with its Historic District Commission … to identify additional traditional residential neighborhoods for potential inclusion in the Neighborhood Preservation Zone as an integral component of an overall preservation plan for Westminster.
“This important work not only helps to implement the city’s comprehensive plan by focusing attention on the perseveration and improvement of the city’s traditional residential neighborhoods, but also by initiating a dialog among city government and its residents about the look, feel and character of Westminster.”
Section three of the proposed Ordinance 816 indicates, “City staff shall focus city programs, including but not limited to residential façade loans… and related historic programs and rehabilitation programs of the city, to properties included in the Neighborhood Preservation Zone.”
The proposed 164-45.31 proscribes, “An application for zonal classification in the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone may be made only by a Sectional Map Amendment.”
Documents cited:
20101021 sdosm Neighborhood Preservation Zone
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