City of Westminster, MD Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone (NP Zone)

The Neighborhood Preservation Overlay 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 Zone in certain traditional residential neighborhoods. Once properties are included in the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone, any development or use of such properties is subject to its provisions.

§ 164-45.26 Purpose; objectives.

It is the purpose of the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone to protect the historical and architectural character of the City's traditional residential neighborhood by promoting the use of land and development that is compatible with Westminster's heritage and is in keeping with the spirit and intent of Westminster's Comprehensive Plan.

The objectives of the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone are:

(1)

To preserve and promote the use of land that is respectful of the residential character of the City's traditional neighborhoods;

(2)

To promote the preservation of neighborhood identity and visual character;

(3)

To guide the use of land and development to reflect Westminster's heritage and to foster a sense of community pride;

(4)

To protect Westminster's quality of life, community character and City identity;

(5)

To use the historic character of Westminster as a tool to unify the community;

(6)

To encourage more-intensive use of land on sites in other suitable locations in the City;

(7)

To create a "sense of place" in which the residential character of the City's traditional neighborhoods is enhanced and encouraged;

(8)

To ensure the use of land and development is compatible with the neighborhood's vision for the future; and

(9)

To recognize the importance of a positive community image and quality community design to assist the City in instilling a sense of pride and well-being in the community.

§ 164-45.27 District designated.

The Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone shall apply to all properties included in the zone as designated on the City of Westminster Zoning Map as "Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone."

§ 164-45.28 Relationship to underlying zones.

The Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone shall be placed over property located in either the R-7,500 Residential Zone or R-10,000 Residential Zone only. The permitted uses and special exception uses authorized in the underlying zones are modified and superseded by those contained in this article. All other provisions of the underlying zones shall apply and remain in force and effect. In the event of any conflict, the provisions of this article shall control.

§ 164-45.29 Uses permitted.

For properties with an underlying zone of R-7,500 Residential Zone:

(1)

Uses permitted. No building, structure or land shall be used and no building or structure shall hereafter be erected, structurally altered, enlarged or maintained, except for one or more of the following uses:

(a)

Dwellings, single-family detached, including accessory buildings incidental to the permitted use.

(b)

Dwellings, single-family semidetached, including accessory buildings incidental to the permitted use.

(2)

Special exceptions. The following uses may be permitted as a special exception in accordance with the provisions of Article XXII:

(a)

Places of worship.

[Amended 5-13-2019 by Ord. No. 910]

(b)

Public buildings and structures.

For properties with an underlying zone of R-10,000 Residential Zone:

(1)

(a)

Dwellings, single-family detached, including accessory buildings incidental to the permitted use.

(2)

Special exceptions. The following uses may be permitted as a special exception in accordance with the provisions of Article XXII:

(a)

Dwellings, single-family semidetached, provided that on parcels of land in excess of five acres no more than 20% of the net buildable land may be devoted to semidetached single-family dwellings.

(b)

Places of worship.

[Amended 5-13-2019 by Ord. No. 910]

(c)

Public buildings and structures.

§ 164-45.30 Reclassification.

Notwithstanding any provisions in the underlying zones to the contrary, properties included in the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone are not eligible for consideration for reclassification to either the PD-4 Planned Development 4 Zone or the PD-9 Planned Development 9 Zone, as provided for in the underlying zones.

§ 164-45.31 Procedure for classification.

An application for zonal classification in the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone may be made only by a sectional map amendment.

§ 164-45.32 Inclusion of additional neighborhoods.

The City will partner with its Historic District Commission and other boards and commissions of the City, the Historical Society of Carroll County, and other state, county and local organizations and groups to identify additional traditional residential neighborhoods for potential inclusion in the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay 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 preservation and improvement of the City's traditional residential neighborhood but also by initiating a dialog among City government and its residents about the look, feel and character of Westminster.