This Ordinance is provided to implement the goals and policies of the Gunnison City General Plan (hereinafter “General Plan”) and the other purposes, as provided by the Act. This Ordinance contains standards, provisions and requirements intended to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens and businesses of Gunnison City, to guide and manage future growth and development, and to promote the orderly use of lands located within the City. It is the purpose of this Ordinance to provide a means of ensuring predictability and consistency in the use and development of land located within the City. These purposes are met by:

1. Guiding growth and development in an orderly manner.
   
2. Providing for the implementation of the General Plan.
   
3. Preserving the natural beauty and resources, including open space, wildlife habitat, clean air and water.
   
4. Providing opportunities for the establishment of appropriate business activities to meet the needs of residents and others.
   
5. Preventing the overcrowding of land.
   
6. Reducing damage and injury from natural disasters such as fire, flood, geologic and seismic hazards, and other dangers.
   
7. Directing and managing the type, distribution, and intensity of land uses and activity.
   
8. Providing required public services, facilities, and amenities.
   
9. Protecting landowners from potential adverse impacts from adjoining uses, and
   
10. Securing economy and efficiency in the allocation and expenditure of public funds and resources.

1. The City may provide a Land Use Ordinances Administrative Manual (hereinafter “Administrative Manual”) to provide administrative guidelines, standards, forms, or other documents to assist the City Staff, City residents, and Applicant(s) in providing and processing applications and interpreting and administering the City’s Land Use Ordinances, including this Ordinance.
   
2. When provided by the Council the Land Use Applications required by this Ordinance shall be reviewed and approved or denied by the Land Authority, as applicable, and in compliance with all requirements and standards of this Ordinance and all guidelines, standards, forms, or other documents, as applicable.

1. Applications accepted by the City as complete for any approval required by the provisions of this Ordinance shall be processed, reviewed and approved or denied, subject to the provisions of this Ordinance and all other Ordinances and Resolutions of the City, as applicable and in effect at the time the application is determined to be “complete,” by the City Recorder, as required by this Ordinance and Resolutions, as applicable.
   
2. No building or structure shall be erected, and no existing building or structure shall be moved, altered or enlarged nor shall any land, building or premises be used, designed or intended to be used for any use, activity, purpose, or in any manner other than as allowed by this Ordinance.
   
3. The provisions of this Ordinance shall apply to all lands located within the municipal boundaries of Gunnison City, unless exempted by the provisions of this Ordinance, or other lawful exemption.
   
4. The provisions of this Ordinance shall be held to be the minimum requirements necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Gunnison City, and achieve the purposes of this Ordinance.