Parkersburg City Council to consider home occupations in historic districts

New businesses could require BZA approval

PARKERSBURG -- Parkersburg City Council will consider an ordinance to expand requirements for establishing home-based businesses in the city's historical districts today at its first meeting of 2024.

Council President Mike Reynolds will also make committee assignments for the year during the meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in council chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building.

Home-based occupations are a permitted use in the city's residentially zoned districts. However, city code makes them a conditional use in the Washington Avenue Historical District, meaning they must first be approved by the city's Board of Zoning Appeals.

Last fall, representatives of the Julia Ann Square and Avery Street historic districts asked for that requirement to be expanded to their districts as well. The Municipal Planning Commission rejected the request in an 8-1 vote.

Among those voting against it was Development Director Ryan Barber, who said the city should be accommodating to people who work from or operate businesses out of their home. He also said it would be challenging for the city's code enforcement department to inspect and keep track of home-based businesses.

Although the ordinance was not referred by the Planning Commission, it got three sponsors to be placed on the council agenda, including Reynolds, whose district includes the Washington Avenue Historical District. He said he co-sponsored the ordinance so it could be discussed.

"I thought that we ought to air it out," he said.

But unless something in tonight's discussion changes his mind, Reynolds said he is likely to vote with the Planning Commission and against the ordinance.

Councilwoman Wendy Tuck, another sponsor, said she needs more information about the ordinance before deciding how she'll vote, specifically on the differences between someone who simply works at their home and someone who operates a business, bringing in clients and vehicles.

The third sponsor is Councilman J.R. Carpenter, whose district includes the Avery Street and Julia Ann historic districts. He could not be reached for comment Monday.

Mayor Tom Joyce described the proposed ordinance as contrary to "recent changes in working from home, home-based businesses and the new digital economy," as well as traditional home-based occupations like tutoring, musical instruction, photography, hair styling and more.

"To task the city administrative body with monitoring use of this nature would be very difficult and put the city at odds with people trying to make an honest living," he said.

As it stands now, home-based occupations are allowed in residential districts other than the Washington Avenue Historical District as long as there is no display visible from the street or signage other than a lighted nameplate and no special outside entrance and it uses less than 25% of the total floor area, among other requirements.

Existing home occupations would be grandfathered under the ordinance.

The proposed ordinance would also expand to the other historic districts the requirement that changes to existing commercial structures first be approved by the district's architectural review board.

Existing home occupations would be grandfathered under the ordinance.

Other than a resolution reappointing Patrick McCormick to the Board of Zoning Appeals, the only other item on the agenda is Reynolds' announcement of committees and other appointments.

Reynolds, who will serve as council president for the fourth time, said he asked the other eight council members for their preferences about the committees on which they would serve. Some gave suggestions, while others said to use them wherever they were needed, he said.

Reynolds said some people will be in familiar roles while others will be placed on committees on which they haven't had an opportunity to serve before. He said he does not intend to act as chairman of the Urban Renewal Authority, something he has done in the past while serving as president. Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl held both roles last year.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.