A.

Title. This chapter shall constitute the zoning regulations of the City of Johnson. It may be cited as the Zoning Ordinance or the Zoning Code and consists of the text, which follows, as well as the zoning district boundary map entitled Official Zoning Map for the City of Johnson, Arkansas, which is on file in the office of the City Clerk/Treasurer.

B.

Authority. These regulations are adopted pursuant to authority granted by the Arkansas General Assembly in A.C.A. Title 14, Chapter 56, Subchapter 4, as amended. All membership in the various boards and commission having authority hereunder, acting prior to the effective date of this chapter shall remain in office and serve the remainder of their respective terms.

C.

Purpose. The zoning regulations set forth herein are enacted to aid in the implementation of the land use portion of the Future Land Use Map of Johnson, Arkansas and to promote in accordance with present and future needs, the safety, order, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare of the citizens of Johnson. The regulations are intended to provide for orderly growth and development; for protection of the character and stability of residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, and environmentally sensitive areas of the City; for protection of property from blight and undue depreciation; for efficiency and economy in the process of development of the appropriate and best use of land; for the use and occupancy of building; for healthful and convenient distribution of population; for good civic design and arrangement; and for adequate public utilities and facilities.

D.

Jurisdiction. The provisions of these regulations shall apply to all land, buildings and structures within the corporate limits of Johnson as they now, or may hereafter exist.

E.

Nature and application.

1.

For the purposes stated above, the City has been divided into zoning districts in which the regulations contained herein will govern lot coverage; the height, area, location,; open space; and the uses of land, buildings, and structures. In their interpretation and application, the provisions of these regulations shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety order, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare. Whenever these requirements are at variance with the requirements of any other lawfully adopted rules or regulations, the most restrictive, or that imposing the higher standards, shall govern; provided however, that the City of Johnson shall not be responsible for enforcing deed restrictions or restrictive covenants.

2.

No land shall be used or occupied, no structure shall be erected, moved, converted, altered, enlarged, used or occupied, and no use shall be operated, unless it is in conformity with the regulations herein prescribed for the district in which such structure or land is located. This provision shall not be construed to affect any lawful uses of land or structures that exist, or for which a lawfully issued permit has been issued, at the effective date of these regulations.

3.

No proposed plat of any new subdivision of land shall hereafter be considered for approval unless the lots within such plat equal or exceed the minimum size and area requirements specified in the applicable zoning district in which the land is located.

4.

No open space required by these regulations for a particular structure or use shall be claimed at the same time as open space for another structure or use.

5.

Dedication to public use of land shall not be a condition for any zoning or conditional use approval.

6.

All structures constructed or occupied in conformance with these regulations shall also conform to all other codes and regulations of the City.

7.

The provisions of these regulations are severable. If any section, paragraph, sentence, or clause shall be declared invalid, the remainder of the regulations shall not be affected.

(Ord. No. 2007-13, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 2020-03, 2-11-2020)