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Weirton board conditionally approves salon in former church at 148 Maria Ave amid parking, access concerns
Summary
The board approved a conditional permit to convert a closed church at 148 Maria Ave into a salon/day spa, requiring compliance with Section 10.26 of the UDO, use of existing marked off-street parking only, and submission of detailed floor and parking plans; neighbors presented a petition citing traffic and emergency-access worries.
The City of Weirton Board of Zoning Appeals on June 3 granted conditional approval for a proposal to convert a closed place of worship at 148 Maria Ave into a salon and day spa, imposing parking and UDO-compliance conditions after neighbors raised concerns.
City staff summarized the proposal: the applicant operates a salon at 3200 Pennsylvania Ave in an approximately 800-square-foot building with five parking spaces and seeks to move to 148 Maria Ave to roughly double indoor space and increase parking capacity. Staff said the site currently has seven marked parking spaces (including one handicap and three motorcycle spots) and room for some additional spaces, but UDO rules restrict added off-street parking in setback areas.
A petition presented by a neighbor, Jeff (Guy Street resident), warned of increased traffic, additional street parking, potential constraints for large vehicles such as fire and garbage trucks, and the risk of a trend toward more commercial uses in the residential area. The minutes record Jeff’s concern about “creep” toward more intrusive commercial uses in the future.
City staff told the board that the board’s authorization is an initial step and that separate building, permitting and occupancy reviews remain required. Staff also said conditional use permits and approvals could be revoked if conditions are violated and that commercial signage would be strictly limited in the residential zone.
The building owner said the structure had been inspected and was up to fire code within the past one to two years, that windows had been restored and graffiti cleaned, and that the owner would work with zoning officials and city staff on floor plans and parking layout before proceeding.
Board members said they were weighing neighborhood character and precedent against supporting local business activity and efficient property reuse. After discussion, the board moved to approve the application with these conditions recorded in the minutes: compliance with Section 10.26 of the Unified Development Order (UDO); use limited to existing marked off-street parking only; submission and separate approval of detailed floor, parking and occupancy plans at permitting/building stages; and enforcement provisions for violations. The minutes record the motion passed with board support; specific vote tallies by member were not listed.
Next steps recorded in the minutes require the owner/applicant to submit detailed plans to city staff, which will review them for UDO Section 10.26 compliance and maintain records of board stipulations; staff will share finalized plans with interested neighbors and the board, and the board may revisit the approval or conduct a site visit if complaints or code violations arise.
