5-1.1.

Provision for official zoning map. Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, the city shall be divided into zoning districts, which shall be designated on the city's official zoning map. The planning department shall prepare and publish said official zoning map, in a format, which together with all supporting documentation, shall hereby be adopted by reference, and declared a part of this Ordinance. Said map shall be considered the final authority in determining the current zoning for land, water areas, buildings, and/or structures located within the corporate limits. The city's official zoning map shall be located in the offices of the city clerk, with reference copies to be located in the offices of the planning department.

The city's official zoning map shall be identified by the signature of the mayor, attested by the clerk of the City of Chicago Heights, and shall bear the effective date of this Ordinance.

Subject to the provisions of chapter 13, Administration, of this Ordinance, all changes in the zoning status of lots shall be made to the official zoning map.

Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, and any applicable provisions of the State of Illinois Municipal Code, changes made in zoning district categories, and/or boundaries, or related matter, illustrated on the city's Official Zoning Map, through annexation, disannexation, and/or amendment, shall be indicated on said official zoning map by the planning department within 30 days of the effective date of the amending ordinance authorizing said changes.

The amending ordinance shall stipulate and said zoning changes shall become effective, only after having been duly entered on said official zoning map. No substantive changes shall be made on said official zoning map, or related documentation as shown thereon, until and unless, said changes fully comply with the provisions of chapter 13, Administration, of this Ordinance.

As authorized by the Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 24, Section 11-13-19, should the city's official zoning map become damaged, destroyed, lost, and/or difficult to interpret because of the nature and/or number of changes, the corporate authorities may, by ordinance, adopt a new, replacement official zoning map which shall supersede all prior zoning maps.

5-3.1.

Such new, replacement official zoning map shall correct drafting, and/or other errors or omissions on the prior map; such corrections shall not have the effect of amending this Ordinance, prior maps, or subsequent amendments, thereto.

5-3.2.

Such new, replacement official zoning map shall be identified as such, shall have the signature of the mayor, attested by the city clerk of the City of Chicago Heights, and shall bear the effective date of the prior official zoning map and the effective date of the new, replacement official zoning map.

When uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the zoning districts shown on the city's official zoning map, incorporated herein, the following rules shall apply:

5-4.1.

Where district boundary lines appear to follow streets, alleys, and/or similar public rights-of-way, and/or railroad rights-of-way, the center lines of said rights-of-way shall be construed to be the said boundaries.

5-4.2.

Where district boundary lines appear to follow recorded lot lines, said lot lines shall be construed to be said boundaries.

5-4.3.

Where district boundary lines appear to follow the corporate limits, said corporate limits shall be construed to be said boundaries.

5-4.4.

Where district boundary lines appear to follow the center line of a water course, said center line shall be construed to be said boundary, regardless of any physical change in the nature and/or location of said center line.

5-4.5.

Where district boundary lines are indicated as being parallel to, and/or extensions of features indicated in this section, said lines shall be construed to be said boundaries.

5-4.6.

Any distance or linear measurement, not specifically indicated on the city's official zoning map, shall be determined by the approximate scale of said map.

5-4.7.

Where a lot or record, as of the effective date of this Ordinance, is held in single ownership, and is divided by a district boundary line, the entire lot of record, shall be construed to be within the more restrictive zoning district.

5-4.8.

Where existing physical and/or geographical features, conflict with those shown on the city's official zoning map, and/or in other circumstances, not covered by this section, the director of planning shall interpret and/or determine said boundaries.

Decisions regarding the provisions of this chapter may be appealed, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 13, Administration, of this Ordinance.

The planning commission shall recommend zoning district designation(s), along with recommendations for the annexation of said lot(s) of record, to the corporate authorities, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 13, Administration, of this Ordinance.

5-6.1.

The planning department shall file a petition with the plan commission, seeking to establish zoning district classification for said lot(s) of record. Said classification shall fully comply with the provisions of the city's official comprehensive plan for said lot.

5-6.2.

The erection of buildings and/or structures, or portions thereof, and any lot(s) of record, hereafter annexed to the city, shall be prohibited, until and unless, an ordinance establishing the zoning district classification for said lot(s) is duly adopted by the corporate authorities in accordance with the provisions of chapter 13, Administration, of this Ordinance.

The following buildings and/or structures, or portions thereof, distribution equipment, and/or uses, shall be exempted under the provisions of this Ordinance, and shall be permitted in any zoning district: cables, conduits, laterals, mains, pipes, poles, utility vaults, valves and wires.

5-7.1.

The installation and construction of said buildings, structures, equipment, and/or uses, thereof, shall conform to all applicable laws, codes, and/or regulations.

All streets, alleys, public ways, waterways and railroad rights-of-way, if not otherwise specifically designated, shall be deemed to be in the same zone as the property immediately abutting upon such alleys, streets, public ways, or waterways and railroad rights-of-way. Where the centerline of a street, alley, public way, waterway or railroad right-of-way serves as a district boundary, the zoning of such areas, unless otherwise specifically designated, shall be deemed to be the same as that of the abutting property up to such centerline.

Prior to the annexation of any territory to the city, a plan for zoning the area to be annexed shall be forwarded to the city council by the plan commission. Upon approval of such plan for zoning the area to be annexed, the city council shall direct the plan commission to hold a public hearing in accordance with the regulations of chapter 13, Administration, of this Ordinance.