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Williston City Zoning Code

SECTION 4

District zoning map.

[Ord. No. 613, Ord. No. 850; Ord. No. 1092]
A. 
Official zoning map.
The City and its extraterritorial jurisdiction are hereby divided into zones or districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map, which together with all explanatory matter thereon is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this ordinance.
The Official Zoning Map is a published paper version of a virtual map, based on written records, maintained by the Planning Department. The Planning Department shall publish an updated Official Zoning Map at least quarterly, unless there have been no zone changes in the preceding quarter.
The Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the notarized signature of the Planning Director under the following words: "This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Map referred to in Article IV of Ordinance Number _____ of the City of Williston, North Dakota," together with the effective date of this ordinance.
If, in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance and Chapter 40-47, North Dakota Century Code, changes are made in district boundaries or other matter portrayed on the Official Zoning Map, such changes shall be entered on the Official Zoning Map promptly by the Planning Director after the amendment has been approved by the City Commission, and an updated map published. The updated Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the notarized signature of Planning Director under the following words:
"This is to certify that this Official Zoning Map supersedes and replaces the Official Zoning Map adopted (date of adoption of map being replaced) as part of Ordinance No. _____ of the City of Williston, North Dakota."
Official Zoning Maps that have been superseded by updated zoning maps shall be archived by the Planning Director for three years from the date of replacement.
No amendment to this ordinance, which involved matter portrayed on the Official Zoning Map, shall become effective until after such change and entry has been made on said map.
No changes of any nature shall be made in the Official Zoning Map, or matter shown thereon, except in conformity with the procedures set forth in this ordinance. Any unauthorized change of whatever kind by any person or persons shall be considered a violation of this ordinance and punishable as provided under Section 26.D.
Regardless of the existence of purported copies of the Official Zoning Map which may from time to time be made or published, either on paper or online, the Official Zoning Map which shall be located in the office of the Planning Director shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land and water areas, buildings, and other structures in the City and its extra-territorial jurisdiction.
B. 
Replacement of Official Zoning Map.
In the event that the Official Zoning Map becomes damaged, destroyed, or lost, the Planning Director shall create a new copy of the virtual zoning map. The replacement Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the notarized signature of Planning Director under the following words:
"This is to certify that this Official Zoning Map supersedes and replaces the Official Zoning Map adopted (date of adoption of map being replaced) as part of Ordinance No. _____ of the City of Williston, North Dakota, which was damaged, destroyed, or lost on (date)."
Unless the prior Official Zoning Map has been lost, or 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.
C. 
Rules for interpretation of district boundaries. Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map, the following rules shall apply:
1. 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following the centerlines of streets, highways, or alleys shall be construed to follow such centerlines.
2. 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines.
3. 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following City limits shall be construed as following such City limits.
4. 
Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed to be midway between the main tracks.
5. 
Boundaries indicated as following shore lines shall be construed to follow such shore lines, and in the event of change in the shore line shall be construed as moving with the actual shore line; boundaries indicated as approximately following the center lines of streams, rivers, canals, lakes, or other bodies of water shall be construed to follow such center lines.
6. 
Boundaries indicated as parallel to, or extensions of, features indicated in Subsections C.1 through C.5 above shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map.
7. 
Where physical or cultural features existing on the ground are at variance with those shown on the Official Zoning Maps, or in other circumstances not covered by Subsections C.1 through C.5 above, the Board of Adjustments shall interpret the distance boundaries.
8. 
Where a district boundary line divides a lot which was in single ownership at the time of passage of this ordinance, the Board of Adjustments may permit, as a special exception, the extension of the regulations for either portion of the lot not to exceed 50 feet beyond the district line into the remaining portion of the lot.