A. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to provide the process and standards for identifying, evaluating and protecting historic resources within the city in order to:

1. Safeguard the heritage represented by those buildings, objects, sites and structures that reflect significant elements of the city’s history;

2. Foster civic and neighborhood pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past;

3. Stabilize or improve the aesthetic and economic vitality and values of such buildings, objects, sites and structures;

4. Assist, encourage and provide incentives to private owners for the preservation, restoration, redevelopment and use of historic buildings, objects, sites and structures;

5. Promote and facilitate the early identification and resolution of conflicts between preservation of historic resources and alternative land uses; and

6. Conserve valuable material and energy resources by ongoing use and maintenance of the existing built environment.

This chapter also sets forth the provisions of the Fort Ward historic overlay district.

B. Relationship to Zoning and Building Codes. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to repeal, modify or waive any zoning, land use or building codes, laws, ordinances or regulations that are otherwise applicable to property listed on the local register, unless as provided by zoning code relief.

C. Zoning Code Relief. Designated local register properties may be authorized for a use not otherwise permitted in a certain zone. The planning director may approve said use through an administrative conditional use (BIMC 2.16.050). The planning director may also waive or modify development standards such as: setbacks, open space, lot coverage, landscape buffers and parking requirements. When an historic structure is preserved on site, the floor area ratio of that historic structure shall not be included in the calculation of total floor area ratio for the site. The historic structure must be included on a state, local, or federal register. (Ord. 2024-01¹ § 1, 2024; Ord. 2022-16 § 1, 2022; Ord. 2021-10 § 4, 2021; Ord. 2016-11 § 2, 2016: Ord. 2011-02 § 2 (Exh. A), 2011)