Westminster, MD Zoning Ordinance

The purpose of the Arts and Culture Overlay District is to facilitate improvements to land and structures within the district and to encourage artistic, cultural and creative resources therein.

For uses not otherwise permitted in the underlying zone in which a property is located, this article imposes requirements in addition to those imposed by this chapter upon uses in the underlying zone.

The overlay district is designed to achieve the following goals:

(1)

To promote development and interest in the district.

(2)

To allow a mix of artistic, cultural and creative uses.

(3)

To allow flexibility of uses and development standards.

(4)

To implement and complement the goals of the 2009 Tri-Street Area Advisory Committee Report.

The Arts and Culture Overlay District shall apply to all properties located within the district as designated on the City of Westminster Zoning Map as "Arts and Cultural Overlay District."

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ARTIST LIVE/WORK SPACE

A single-family dwelling unit in which up to 50% of the floor area is used by the resident for the production, showing, and sale of art.

ARTIST or ARTISAN

A person regularly engaged in the creation of art.

ART or ARTISTIC WORKS

Works of beauty or other special aesthetic significance produced by means of the exercise of human creative skill, including:

Written works, such books, poetry, journalism, plays or screenplays.

Multimedia images generated through the use of computers, software and applications to combine text, high-quality sound, graphics and animation or video.

Images, forms or sounds generated for aesthetic reasons rather than solely for commercial or functional use, including drawings, paintings, printmaking or sculpture, using materials such as paper, plaster, stone, glass, clay, wood, metal, or textile.

The application of aesthetic designs to everyday functional objects, including works in photography, industrial design, graphic design, fashion design or interior design.

Performance art in traditional varieties, such as theater, music, and ballet.

New media and contemporary forms of expression, such as assemblage, collage, conceptual, as well as photography and film-based images.

A workshop for the production of art or for art instruction and/or a gallery for the performance, display and/or sale of art is permitted in the Arts and Culture Overlay Zone, provided that:

The gross floor area of the workshop or gallery does not exceed 50% of the total square footage of the principal dwelling unit;

Works of art displayed, performed or sold have been written, composed, created or executed for limited production and not for industry-oriented distribution;

Instruction in the creation of works of art or in music, dance, and other forms of performance art shall be limited to a maximum of six students at a time (including the number of persons waiting on the property to receive such instruction);

The work displayed, performed or sold has been written, composed, created or executed or the instruction given in art, music, dance or other forms of performance art is provided by a person whose primary residence is in the premises; and

Signage for the workshop or gallery meets the following restrictions:

(1)

The premises may have no more than:

(a)

One hanging sign, which may not exceed three square feet in area; or

(b)

One ground sign, which may not exceed four square feet in area and may not exceed 36 inches in height.

(2)

All signage must be approved by the Zoning Administrator. In determining whether or not to approve a sign application, the Zoning Administrator shall find that the proposed sign will achieve a maximum degree of compatibility with the neighborhood and will further the interests of efficiency and attractiveness to the greatest practicable extent, in consideration of the following factors:

(a)

Traffic and pedestrian safety;

(b)

Size, configuration, elevation and location of the property;

(c)

Existing signs on neighboring properties;

(d)

Aesthetics; and

(e)

Any other factors relating to the location, design, composition and specific character of the proposed sign deemed appropriate by the Zoning Administrator.