For the purpose of this article, the city is hereby divided into districts as listed in the attached section 14.02.204 - residential lot and dimension table.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be a district known as a “FP” floodplain district, which may be coextensive with, or overlap any or all of the foregoing districts, or portions thereof, and any tract of land or portion thereof may, at the same time, be zoned for the uses in one of the foregoing district and be zoned “FP” floodplain. Where a tract of land or portion thereof is zoned for the uses of the foregoing districts and is also zoned “FP” floodplain, the restrictions contained in the “FP” floodplain district shall be applicable to said tract or portion thereof and shall take precedence over the other zoning districts.

The city is hereby divided into zones, or districts, as shown on the official zoning map, which together with all explanatory matter thereon, is in existence and is hereby adopted and declared to be a part of this article.

The official zoning map shall be identified by the signature of the mayor, attested by the city secretary, and bearing the seal of the city under the following words: “This is to certify that this is the official zoning map adopted as part of Ordinance No._____of the City of Goliad, Texas.”

The official zoning map shall be in the custody of, and shall remain on file in the office of the city secretary and the city administrator.

The zoning map, or a copy, shall be available for public inspection for all matters that are of public record.

When 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 after the amendment has been approved by the city council.

The city council may, by ordinance, adopt a new official zoning map should the original reproducible tracing of the official zoning map be damaged, destroyed, lost or become ambiguous because of the nature or number of changes and additions. The new official zoning map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior official zoning map, or any subsequent amendment thereof. The new official zoning map shall be identified by the signature of the mayor, attested by the city secretary, and bearing the seal of the city 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 a part of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Goliad, Texas.”

For the purposes of this article, words used in the present tense include the future tense; words in the singular number include the plural number and words in the plural number include the singular number; the word “shall” is mandatory, not directory; the word “may” is permissive; the word “person” includes a firm, association, organization, partnership, trust, foundation, company, or corporation, as well as, an individual; the word “used” includes designed and intended or arranged to be used; the word “building” includes the word “structure”; the word “lot” includes “building lot” or parcel. Wherever this article imposes a greater restriction than imposed by other ordinances, laws, or regulations, the provisions of this article shall govern.

The regulations set by this article within each district shall be minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each class and kind of structure or land, except as hereinafter provided.

Every building, hereafter erected or moved, shall be on a lot adjacent to a public street or with access to an approved private street, and all structures shall be so located on lots as to provide safe and convenient access for servicing, fire protection, and required off-street parking.

On a corner lot, nothing shall be erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow in such a manner (as with traffic visibility across materially) to interfere [with] the corner. This visibility area shall be a triangle measured twenty-five (25) feet from the point of right-of-way line intersection. All objects on the ground in said triangle should not exceed two (2) feet in height and vegetation should not droop to less than ten (10) feet from the ground.

Please refer to the city’s fence ordinance for specific restrictions.

The regulations contained herein relating to the height of buildings or structures and the size of yards and other open spaces shall be subject to the following exceptions:

The purpose of the home occupation provision is to permit the conduct of home occupations that are compatible with the neighborhoods in which they are located. Home occupations are a permitted accessory use in all residential districts, and are subject to the requirements of the district in which the use is located, in addition to the following:

The zoning regulations, restrictions, and boundaries may, from time to time, be amended, supplemented, changed, modified or repealed. Such amendments, supplements, changes, modification, or repeal shall be deemed to amend, supplement, change, modify, or repeal the comprehensive plan of the city and shall become a part of such comprehensive plan. The planning and zoning commission and its composition and duties are established by the city council.

An amendment to this article may be initiated by:

Prior to making its report to the city council, the planning and zoning commission shall hold at least one (1) public hearing thereon. Written notice of all public hearings on proposed changes in district boundaries shall be sent not less than ten (10) days before such hearing is held to all owners of property which is located within the area proposed to be changed, within two hundred (200) feet of such property or within two hundred (200) feet of any other adjacent property under the same ownership as the tract to be rezoned. Measurements shall be taken inclusive of public streets. Such notice may be served by using the last known address as listed on the city tax roll and depositing the notice, postage paid, in the United States mail. No notice of hearings before the planning and zoning commission on proposed changes in zoning regulations need be given except as may be required by state law.

The planning and zoning commission, after the public hearing is closed, shall vote on its recommendations on the proposed change to be sent in a report to the city council. Such report may recommend for or against such proposed change and may but need not include reasons for such decision. The commission may defer its report for not more than sixty (60) days until it has had opportunity to consider other proposed changes that may have a direct bearing thereon. If the commission fails to finally report after sixty (60) days, it would be deemed to have recommended negatively to the proposal.

Every proposal, receiving a final report by the commission, shall be forwarded to the council for setting and holding of public hearing thereon. No change, however, shall become effective until after the adoption of an ordinance for same and its publication as required by law.

Any proposal or application may be withdrawn by the proponent after the commission makes its final report, and such proposal or application shall not be subject to the provision hereof that a period of time must pass before a new application is considered. If such proposal is withdrawn, the council will not consider it. Any proposal or application withdrawn may be resubmitted and shall be subject to all fees and notice requirements as an original application.

The city may, from time to time, amend, supplement, or change by ordinance the boundaries of the districts or the regulations herein established. A public hearing on such amendment, supplement, or change shall be held by the council. Notice of council hearing shall be given by publication one (1) time in the official newspaper of the city, stating the time and place of such hearing, which time shall not be earlier than fifteen (15) days from the date of publication. No such amendment, supplement, or change shall be considered unless and until the commission makes its final report thereon. Publication of such change shall be accomplished by publishing the descriptive caption and penalty clause of the ordinance amending the comprehensive plan to incorporate the change.

No application for rezoning shall be considered within six (6) months of denial of a request by the city council for the same classification on the same property.

In case of a protest against such change, signed by the owners of twenty (20) percent or more either of the land included in such proposed change, or of the land within two hundred (200) feet thereof, including any intervening public street, such amendment shall not become effective except by the favorable vote of three-fourths (3/4) of all the members of the city council.

The proponent of any zone change shall satisfy the city council that either the general welfare of the city affected by the area to be changed will be enhanced, or that the property is unusable for the purposes allowed under existing zoning. If such is proved to the council’s satisfaction, it may grant the requested zone change; or it may change the zone’s designation of a portion of such property; or it may initiate a request to consider changing all or a portion of such property to a district other than that requested and of a different character.

When in the opinion of the planning and zoning commission, city council, or zoning board of adjustment that greater information is required from the petitioner concerning the nature, extent, and impact of his request than supplied with his application for a change in zoning or conditional use permit, in order for such commission, council, or board to properly review and evaluate all relevant factors thereof, said commission, council, or board may require the applicant to submit a site plan and supporting documents conforming with all or a portion of the requirements set forth in this subsection, prior to rendering a decision thereon. The petitioner is encouraged to meet with the appropriate commission, council, or board in an informal work session to ascertain the exact extent of plans and documents required, if any, prior to the city initiating the advertisement for public hearing on the petition. The general type and extent of plans and supporting documents that may be required of the petitioner include, but are not necessarily limited to:

A fee in the amount established by city council shall accompany all requests for amendments to the zoning ordinance except requests initiated by the city council or the planning and zoning commission.