This chapter is drawn in accordance with those regulations set forth in Division 13 of the Illinois Municipal Code, contained within 65 ILCS 5/11-13-1; further, this chapter is based upon the Village Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

Specifically, this chapter is designed to further the objectives of the Village Comprehensive Land Use Plan; to prevent or lessen pollution of the air and water resources of the community; to promote the public health, safety, morals, comforts and general welfare; to lessen or avoid congestion in the public streets and highways; to avoid hazards resulting from accumulation or runoff of stormwater and floodwaters; conserve and enhance the taxable value of the land and buildings; to prevent overcrowding of land or buildings; to provide proper relationships between uses and public utility; and to otherwise insure the orderly growth of the community.

To divide the Village into districts regulating and restricting therein the location, construction, reconstruction or major alteration of any building or structure, and to regulate the type and intensity of land use by adoption and enforcement of the Official Zoning Map of the Village of Harristown.

To change the district classification applied to any parcel of land after proper legal notice and public meeting as prescribed in this chapter and the Illinois Compiled Statutes.

To adopt or amend sections to be added to this chapter after proper legal notice and public hearings as prescribed in this chapter and the Illinois Compiled Statutes.

To grant relief or variance to the strict interpretations of this chapter, but only as provided for in Article VI of this chapter.

To permit the granting of special use permits to establish uses of land or structures as designated as allowable special uses in the zone regulations, or for new or unusual uses which are not specified in any zone, but only as provided for in § 40-5-1 of this chapter.

To permit the granting of special planned unit developments, but only as provided for in § 40-5-3 of this chapter.

To provide for the gradual elimination or to extend the life of nonconforming uses as provided for in Article VII of this chapter.

To impose building setbacks greater than those contained in district regulations along major highways or surface water drainageways, but only as shown on the Official Setback Map as provided for in § 40-4-4(D) of this chapter.

To take any necessary legal action against any person or organization which violates provisions of this chapter, including, but not limited to, seeking injunctive relief to restrain activities or constructions in violation of this chapter, or to remove or demolish buildings or structures in violation of this chapter, and fines for violations.

If any court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge any provision of this chapter to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect any other provisions of this chapter not specifically included in said judgment.

If any court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge invalid the application of any provision of this chapter to a particular property, building, or other structure, such judgment shall not affect the application of said provision to any other property, building, or structure not specifically included in said judgment.

In case any building or structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted, or maintained, or any building, structure or land is used in violation of this chapter, the proper authorities of the Village, or any person the value or use of whose property is or may be affected by such violation, in addition to other remedies, may institute any appropriate action or proceedings in equity to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance, or use, to restrain, correct, or abate such violation, to prevent the occupancy of said building, structure, or land or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business, or use in or about such premises.

The violation of the terms of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding $750 for each offense, and each and every day a violation continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense.[1]