For the purposes of this ordinance, the City of Buena Vista is divided into zoning districts named and described in the following sections. The boundaries of said zoning districts are hereby established and shown on the official zoning map maintained in the office of the zoning administrator and shown as originally adopted within article 12, zoning map et seq.

The zoning map entitled the "Official Zoning Districts Map for the City of Buena Vista, Virginia," dated July 26, 1985, as amended, hereinafter referred to as the official zoning map, with all notations, references, amendments, and dates thereof, and other information shown thereon, shall constitute a part of this ordinance. Said map shall be made a public record and shall be kept permanently in the office of the zoning administrator, where it shall be accessible to the general public.

If in accordance with the provisions of article 8, herein, changes are made in the district boundaries or other information portrayed in the official zoning map, such changes shall be entered on the official zoning map within ten days after the amendment has been approved by the governing body, together with a numerical entry referring to the application for the amendment, submitted in accordance with article 8, herein, which shall be kept as a public record by the zoning administrator. Said numerical entry shall state the reference number of the application in the records of the zoning administrator and the date of the approval of the amendment by the governing body. Amendments to this ordinance, which involve matter portrayed on the official zoning map, shall become effective immediately upon being entered onto the official zoning map. The City of Buena Vista official zoning map, which shall be located in the office of the zoning administrator, shall be the final authority in determining the current zoning status of land and water areas, buildings, and other structures in the city. No changes of any nature shall be made in the official zoning map except in accordance with the procedures set forth herein.

In the event that the official zoning map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of changes and additions, the governing body may, by resolution, adopt a new official zoning map which shall supersede the prior official zoning map. The new official zoning map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior official zoning map, but no such corrections shall have the effect of amending the original official zoning map or any subsequent amendment thereof. Unless the prior official zoning map has been lost or has been totally destroyed, the prior map, or any significant parts thereof remaining shall be preserved, together with all available records pertaining to its adoption or amendment.

Unless district boundary lines are fixed by dimensions, and where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of any of the aforesaid districts as shown on the official zoning map, the following shall apply:

405.01

Unless otherwise indicated, district boundaries indicated as approximately following property lines, landlines, centerlines of streams, roads, highways, alleys, the shorelines of reservoirs, or other bodies of water or civil boundaries, shall be construed to follow such lines.

405.02

District boundaries indicated as approximately parallel to the centerlines of streams, roads, highways, or rights-of-way of the same, or the shorelines of reservoirs, or other bodies of water, or said lines extended, shall be construed as being parallel thereto and at such distance therefrom as indicated on the official zoning map. If no distance is given, such dimensions shall be determined by the use of the scale shown on the official zoning map.

405.03

Where a district boundary line as appearing on the official zoning map divides a lot which is in single ownership at the time of this enactment, the use classification of the larger portion may, on application, be extended to the remainder by the governing body in accordance with article 8 of this ordinance.

405.04

Where a public road, street, or alley is officially vacated or abandoned, the regulations applicable to the property to which it is reverted shall apply to such vacated or abandoned road, street, or alley.

405.05

Where a district boundary is indicated to follow a river, creek, branch, or other body of water, said boundary shall be construed to follow the centerline at low water or at the limit of the jurisdiction, and in the event of change in the shoreline, such boundary shall be construed as moving with the actual shoreline with its reestablished center or channel.

405.06

If no distance, curvature description, or other means is given to determine a boundary line accurately and the foregoing provisions do not apply, the same shall be determined by the use of the scale shown on the official zoning map. In case of subsequent dispute, the matter shall be referred to the board which shall determine the boundary in accordance with section 806.01 of this ordinance.