This Ordinance is adopted for the following purposes:

   1.   To promote and protect public health, safety, morals, comfort, and general welfare of the people.

   2.   To divide the Village of Itasca into zones or districts restricting and regulating therein the location, erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration and use of buildings, structures and land for residence business, manufacturing and other specified uses.

   3.   To protect the character and the stability of the residential, business, and manufacturing areas with the Village of Itasca and to promote the orderly and beneficial development of such areas.

   4.   To provide adequate light, air, privacy and convenience of access to property.

   5.   To prevent additions to or alterations or remodeling of existing buildings or structures in such a way as to avoid the restrictions and limitations imposed hereunder.

   6.   To limit congestion in the public streets and protect the public health, safety, convenience and general welfare by providing for off-street parking of motor vehicles and the loading and unloading of commercial vehicles.

   7.   To protect against fire, explosion, noxious fumes and other hazards in the interest of public health, safety, comfort, and general welfare.

   8.   To prevent the overcrowding of land and undue concentration of structures as far as is possible and appropriate in each district, by regulating the use and bulk buildings in relations to the land surrounding them.

   9.   To conserve the taxable value of land and buildings throughout the Village of Itasca.

   10.   To provide for the gradual elimination of those uses, buildings, and structures which are incompatible with the character of the districts in which they are made or located, including without being limited thereto:

      a.   Elimination of such uses of unimproved lands or lot areas when the existing rights of the persons in possession thereof are terminated, or when the uses to which they are devoted are discontinued; and

      b.   Elimination of uses to which such buildings and structures are devoted if they are adaptable for permitted uses; and

      c.   Elimination of such buildings and structures when they are destroyed or damaged in major part or when they have reached the age fixed by the corporate authorities or the municipality as the normal useful life of such buildings or structures.

   11.   To define and limit the powers and duties of the administrative officers and bodies as provided herein.

   12.   To prescribe the penalties for the violation of the provisions of this Ordinance or any amendments thereto.

   13.   To protect the air, water, and land resources of the Village from the hazards of pollution.

   14.   To protect land and buildings and the lawful uses of land and buildings from natural hazards including flooding and erosion.

   15.   To encourage development of the zoning districts so that there is compliance with the General Development Plan, as amended.

(Ord. 963-96, passed 4-8-97)