Boards & Commissions

There are several boards and commissions established within the City of Parkersburg’s governmental infrastructure to establish, preserve, and enforce guidelines and standards pertaining to specific areas of interest and development. Some of these are directly managed by the City of Parkersburg; others are boards for which the Parkersburg City Council has the authority to confirm new members. 

If you are interested in serving on one of these boards, please follow the link at the bottom of each section to open the application form or contact Ryan Barber, Director of Development.

• Julia-Ann Square
• Avery Historic District
• Parkersburg High School/Washington Avenue

• Four residents of the District;
• One employee of the Development Department

Bicycle Advisory Board
The Parkersburg Bicycle Advisory Board was established to complete the City of Parkersburg’s Alternative Transportation Plan and provide opportunities for safe cycling in the city.

Membership
No more than 11 voting members. The members shall be nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by Council.
The members of the Board should, to the extent possible, consist of representatives of:

• Bike and cycling organizations
• Private businesses located within the City
• Organizations concerned with safety/Planning organizations
• Representatives of business or non-profit organizations with express interest in Parkersburg bicycling infrastructure and facilities, and;
• Interested private citizens concerned with cycling issues.
• A City Parks and Recreation representative, the City Engineer, the City Planning Director, and a representative from the Parkersburg Police Department shall serve as nonvoting members of the Bicycle Advisory Board.
• Members shall be residents and/or have a vested interest in the City of Parkersburg, as determined by the Mayor of the City of Parkersburg.

Board of Zoning Appeals

The City of Parkersburg Board of Zoning Appeals is a quasi-judicial body charged with evaluating zoning variances and conditional uses.  The Board shall have the power to hear and decide on appeals wherein a variance to the terms of the zoning code is proposed. The Board of Zoning Appeals shall be permitted to approve, approve with conditions or deny a request for a variance.

Meeting Schedule
The Board of Zoning Appeals meets monthly on the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm. The deadline for applications submitted for review by the BZA, shall be 12:00pm approximately 35 days PRIOR to the BZA meeting date.

• Five members to be appointed by Council
• Members of the Board shall be residents of the City,
• Three-fifths of the members shall have been residents of the City for at least ten years preceding the time of their appointment.
• No two members shall come from the same election district.
• No member of the Board shall be a member of the City Development Department, nor shall any member hold other elective or appointive office in the City or County Government

Complete an application for this board

Criteria for Zoning Variances and Conditional Uses
1. Limitations on the use of the property due to physical, topographical and geologic features;
2. The granting of a variance will not grant any special privilege to the property owner;
3. The applicant can demonstrate that without a variance there can be no reasonable use of the property;
4. Granting of the variance is not based solely on economic reasons;
5. The necessity for the variance was not created by the property owner;
6. The variance requested is the minimum variance necessary to allow reasonable use of the property;
7. Granting of the variance will not be injurious to the public health, safety or welfare; and
8. The property subject to the variance request possesses one or more unique characteristics generally not applicable to similarly situated properties.

The Board of Zoning Appeals shall not grant a variance to allow the establishment of a use in a zoning district when such use is prohibited by the provisions of this code.
A fee in the amount of $50.00 (Fifty-dollars) shall be charged for each application submitted to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Download a Zoning Permit Application (opens in a PDF)
Download a Zoning Appeals Application (opens in a PDF)

Building Enforcement Agency

The Building Enforcement Agency has the power and authority to require the repair, alteration or improvement, or the vacating and closing or removal or demolition, or any combination thereof, of any dwelling or other building unfit for human habitation or unsafe, unsanitary, dangerous or detrimental to the public welfare. They may table action on any such dwelling or other building and recommend action to the Urban Renewal Authority of the City.

The BEA meets on the first Monday of each month at 9:00a.m.
Membership
Shall consist of the Mayor, the City Engineer, the City Code Enforcement Director and one member-at-large to be selected by and serve at the will and pleasure of the Mayor. The Health Officer and Fire Chief shall serve as ex-officio.

Complete an application for this board

Downtown Design & Façade Committee

It is the purpose of the Facade Regulations to create a means for improving the growth, business retention and recruitment of downtown Parkersburg through the promotion of cohesive architectural styles and designs, land uses, streetscape designs and historic preservation.
Membership

• One representative of a local design firm
• One member of Parkersburg City Council appointed by the President
• A resident whose primary occupancy is within the Central Business District; two (2) representatives of businesses which own real property and operate a business within the Central Downtown Business District boundaries and
• The Executive Director of Main Street PKB.
• The Planning Director and Code Enforcement Director of the City of Parkersburg shall serve as nonvoting staff members

Municipal Planning Commission

The City of Parkersburg Municipal Planning Commission maintains the 2030 Comprehensive Master Plan and evaluates subdivisions, rezoning, alley abandonments, and annexations.
The Municipal Planning Commission meets every third Friday of the month, as business dictates.
Membership

• Eleven members, all of whom shall be residents of the City, who shall be qualified by knowledge and experience in matters pertaining to the development of the municipality.
• Three-fifths of all of the members must have been residents of the City for at least three years prior to appointment and confirmation.
• The members must fairly represent different areas of interest, knowledge and expertise, including, but not limited to: business, industry, labor, government and other relevant disciplines.
• One member must be a member of City Council and one member must be a member of the administrative department of the City or a designee.

Tree Commission
The City Tree Commission is charged with establishing beautification projects in Parkersburg and cultivating a healthy tree canopy. The City Tree Commission provides the Office of the Mayor, the Public Works Department, and the City Council with guidance regarding the maintenance and growth of the City's urban tree canopy. The Commission consists of eight members, all of whom shall have interest in enhancing the City’s Urban Tree Canopy and contributing to City of Parkersburg beautification efforts.

• One member of the Tree Commission shall also be a member of Council and shall be selected by Council.
• One member shall be the Public Works Director. The term of this member shall be coextensive with the term of office to which he or she has been appointed. The Public Works Director may designate another City of Parkersburg, Public Works employee to act on their behalf in the event of a Tree Commission meeting absence.
• One member shall be the City Arborist. The remaining five members shall be nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by Council for terms of three years each

Complete an application for this board

 Urban Renewal Authority

The Urban Renewal Authority mitigates blighted conditions in the community. This is done to protect the surrounding neighborhoods and encourage future development. The Authority meets as business dictates following regularly scheduled meetings of City Council and is comprised of all nine members of City Council.

Complete an application for this board

Boards & Commissions With Members Appointed By Council

Fireman's Civil Service Commission

The commission shall consist of three commissioners.

• One of whom shall be appointed by the mayor of the municipality
• One of whom shall be appointed by the local international association of fire fighters in the event that said local exists in the municipality, or in case no such local exists in the municipality, then by the local central body of the West Virginia Federation of Labor AFL-CIO in the event that said central body exists in the municipality
• Third shall be appointed by the local Chamber of Commerce

· The commissioners shall be qualified voters of the city for which they are appointed.

Complete an application for this board

Parkersburg Housing Authority
The Parkersburg Housing Authority is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, appointed by the Mayor of the City of Parkersburg. The Board of Commissioners meet monthly and oversee the activities, long and short term, of the PHA.
More information on the Housing Authority here

Complete an application for this board

Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department - Board of Health

The MOV Health Department Board of Health is comprised of 14 members, representing seven WV counties.
Two members are appointed by Parkersburg City Council – one from each political party. 
More information on the Board of Health here

Complete an application for this board

Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority
The Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority provides public transportation services to the residents of the City of Parkersburg and the City of Vienna. Its mission is to provide safe, clean, dependable and affordable public transportation to our residents and visitors.
More information on the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority here

Complete an application for this board

Policeman's Civil Service Commission
The commission shall consist of three commissioners, as follows:

• One shall be appointed by the mayor of the city;
• One shall be appointed by the local fraternal order of police; and
• One shall be appointed by the local chamber of commerce, or if there is none, by a local business association.

· The commissioners shall be qualified voters of the city for which they are appointed.

Complete an application for this board

Utility Board

All Board members shall be appointed by the Council of the City. No officer or employee of the City, whether holding a paid or unpaid office, shall be eligible to be appointed to the Board until at least one year after the expiration of the term of such public office.
Five persons, one of whom shall be the Mayor of the City, the remaining four Board members shall be customers of the Parkersburg Utility Board, shall be persons of outstanding reputation, ability and integrity, not less than one of whom shall be a registered professional engineer. No more than one of the Board members may be a citizen of Wood County, residing outside of the corporate limits of the City; all of the remaining Board members shall be citizens and residents of the City with exception of the Mayor.
More information on the Utility Board here (opens in a new window)

Complete an application for this board

Wood County Recreation Commission

The mission of WCRC is to provide quality affordable recreation opportunities for residents of Wood and surrounding counties. Its board is made up of not more than nine members. The Mayor nominates three members who are confirmed by City Council.
More information on Wood County Recreation Commission (opens in a new window)

Complete an application for this board