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Commission adopts zoning text amendment to give Historic Preservation Board added flexibility for shotgun houses
Summary
On second reading the commission unanimously approved Ordinance 5126, a city-initiated amendment to Chapter 94 that gives the Historic Preservation Board authority to grant additional dimensional exemptions for contributing shotgun houses in the Northwest historic district.
The West Palm Beach City Commission on April 14 adopted Ordinance 5126 on second reading, amending Chapter 94 of the zoning code to permit the Historic Preservation Board to grant additional special dimensional standard exemptions for contributing shotgun houses located on parcels that contain multiple contributing historic structures in the Northwest neighborhood.
City staff presented the ordinance as a city-initiated text amendment to Article 3 (Residential Districts), Sections 94-85 (special exception standards for historic residential districts) and 94-86 (historic residential district definitions). Staff said there were no changes from the first reading and recommended adoption.
The ordinance declares the proposed text amendment consistent with the comprehensive plan and city zoning regulations, includes standard severability and conflicts clauses, and becomes effective per the ordinance language. The mayor called for the second reading; the clerk read the ordinance title into the record and the commission voted unanimously to adopt.
The change provides the Historic Preservation Board a clarified mechanism to consider dimensional relief for historic shotgun houses when multiple contributing structures exist on the same parcel. Staff noted the amendment applies specifically to the Northwest historic residential district and is intended to preserve contributing structures while allowing reasonable flexibility to maintain or adapt historic residences.
