St. Clairsville Historic Downtown District
Ordinance
The Historic Downtown District Architectural Review Ordinance was established to provide a design review mechanism for the purpose of protecting and preserving the character of the downtown district as an historic and economic resource for the community.
Review District
The areas of the City subject to the Historic Downtown District Architectural Review Ordinance are those portions of any building or property that have frontage on and are visible from any of the following public areas:
- The north side of Main Street from Butler to the lot west of 203 East Main Street;
- The south side of Main Street from Bulter to Scott’s Alley;
- Marietta Street from Newell Avenue to Woodrow Avenue;
- Market Street from Newell Avenue to Woodrow Avenue.
Application
An individual or business interested in constructing a building, exterior renovation of a building, erecting or changing a sign or making changes to site elements such as parking, pavings, walls, fences and landscaping within the Historic Downtown District must submit an application to the Board of Architectural Review.
Application forms and copies of the Design Standards Manual and the Architectural Review Ordinance are available at the Municipal Building. Print, complete the application form, and return it to the Municipal Building (100 North Market Street, PO Box 537, St. Clairsville, OH 43950).
Application Requirements
An application should be accompanied by a general support statement that briefly outlines the reasons for the request, a list of abutting property owners and their mailing addresses, a site plan, building elevations, color and material samples (paint chips, bricks, shingles, siding, etc.) and photographs of the existing conditions. All drawings must be drawn to scale and may be, but need not be, actual architectural drawings. Occasionally, additional information may be requested in order to help the Board make an informed decision. There is an application fee ranging anywhere from $2.00 to $200.00 depending upon the cost of the improvement.
Review Board
The Board of Architectural Review consists of a maximum of seven members. Members must be residents of Belmont County who have owned property in the Historic District for at least one year immediately preceding their appointment or be residents of the City of St. Clairsville. Members must be appointed by the Mayor and approved by the St. Clairsville City Council.
Board’s Role
The Board of Architectural Review does not dictate a certain architectural style for the entire district. Rather, the Board tries to place an application in context and view how it fits in with the surrounding properties and the historic architectural character of the District. The purpose of the Board is to review all applications and approve those that maintain, enhance or promote the strong character and identity of the District.
Certificate of Appropriateness
Once an application has been reviewed and approved by the Board, a Certificate of Appropriateness will be issued. The Certificate will be valid for one year from the date of approval. The Certificate will be needed in order to obtain other required City permits.
Questions
If you have any additional questions, need help meeting the procedural requirements or preparing an application, please contact the City’s Planning & Zoning Administrator for assistance.
Tom Murphy
Planning & Zoning Administrator
City of St. Clairsville
Municipal Building
100 North Market Street, PO Box 537
St. Clairsville, OH 43950
Phone: 740-695-1953
Email: tmurphy@stclairsville.com