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Kaufman City Zoning Code

I ENACTING

PROVISIONS

§ 1 ENACTING CLAUSE.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF KAUFMAN, TEXAS, REPEALING AND REPLACING ORDINANCE NO. O-14-99, THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE, ADOPTED ON THE 22ND DAY OF MARCH, 1999, TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS THERETO IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND ADOPTING ORDINANCE NO. O-02-07, THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF KAUFMAN, TEXAS, AS APPROVED AND ADOPTED ON THE 19TH DAY OF MARCH, 2007, TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS THERETO; ESTABLISHING AND PROVIDING ZONING REGULATIONS; CREATING USE DISTRICTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL; REGULATING WITHIN SUCH DISTRICTS THE HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, THE SIZE OF YARDS, COURTS AND OPEN SPACES, AND THE HEIGHT, BULK AND USE OF BUILDINGS AND LAND FOR COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, RESIDENCE AND OTHER PURPOSES; PROVIDING FOR SPECIFIC USE PERMITS (SUP); REPEALING THE FOLLOWING ABANDONED OR DISCONTINUED SUP ORDINANCES: O-08-99, O-10-00, O-24-00 AND O-09-04; SPECIFYING MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR OFF-STREET PARKING OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND OFF-STREET LOADING AREAS; PROVIDING MINIMUM REQUIRED FLOOR AREAS FOR DWELLING UNITS AND THE TYPE OF EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION WITHIN CERTAIN ZONING DISTRICTS; REGULATING THE DENSITY OF DWELLINGS AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND THE PERCENTAGE OF LOT THAT MAY BE OCCUPIED BY STRUCTURES; ADOPTING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR INDUSTRY; ESTABLISHING THE BASIS FOR CREATING A BUILDING SITE; PROVIDING FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL; PROVIDING FENCE AND WALL REGULATIONS; PROVIDING SPECIAL ACCESS STANDARDS; ADOPTING A ZONING DISTRICT MAP AND MAKING IT A PART OF THIS ORDINANCE, TOGETHER WITH ALL SYMBOLS, MARKINGS AND TABLES APPEARING ON SAID MAP AND WITHIN THE ORDINANCE; CREATING A PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND DEFINING ITS POWERS AND DUTIES; CREATING A BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND DEFINING ITS POWERS AND DUTIES; CREATING A BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION AND DEFINING ITS POWERS AND DUTIES; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY FOR VIOLATION; PROVIDING FOR NON-CONFORMING USES AND A METHOD OF DISCONTINUANCE THEREOF; DEFINING CERTAIN TERMS AS USED WITHIN THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING FOR A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY AND COMPLIANCE; AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION OF THE DESCRIPTIVE CAPTION AND PENALTY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,000.00) FOR EACH AND EVERY OFFENSE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND PRESERVING RIGHTS IN PENDING LITIGATION REGARDING VIOLATIONS UNDER THE EXISTING ORDINANCE.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Kaufman, Texas on 20th day of February, 2007.
PASSED AND ADOPTED (Second Reading) by the City Council of the City of Kaufman, Texas on the 19th day of March, 2007.
___________________________________
Paula Bacon
Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________
JoAnn Talbot
City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
___________________________________
David Dodd
City Attorney
(Ordinance O-02-07 adopted 3/19/07)

§ 2 PURPOSE.

As authorized by Chapter 211 of the Texas Local Government Code, the zoning regulations and districts as herein established have been made in accordance with an adopted comprehensive plan for the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, morals and general welfare, and protecting and preserving places and areas of historical, cultural or architectural importance and significance within the City. They have been designed to lessen the congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to ensure adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land and thus avoid undue concentration of population; and to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, wastewater treatment, schools, parks and other public requirements. They have been made with reasonable consideration, among other things, for the character of each zoning district and its peculiar suitability for the particular uses specified; and with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the City.
(Ordinance O-02-07 adopted 3/19/07)

§ 3 ZONING DISTRICT MAP.

The boundaries of zoning districts set out herein are delineated upon the Zoning District Map of the City, said map being adopted as a part of this Ordinance as fully as if the same were set forth herein in detail.
3.1 
One (1) original of the Zoning District Map shall be filed in the office of the City Secretary and labeled as Ordinance No. O-02-07. This copy shall be the official Zoning District Map and shall bear the signature of the Mayor and attestation of the City Secretary. This copy shall not be changed in any manner. In case of any question, this copy, together with amending ordinances, shall be controlling. (A copy of this map at the time of adoption is located at the back of this Ordinance for reference only[.])
3.2 
A copy of the original Zoning District Map shall be placed in the office of the Director of Development Services (Director). The copy shall be used for reference and shall be maintained up-to-date by posting thereon all subsequent amendments. Reproductions for informational purposes may only be made of the official Zoning District Map or this copy.
Editor's note–Copies of the zoning district map are not located at the back of this ordinance but are maintained on file in the offices of the city.
(Ordinance O-02-07 adopted 3/19/07)

§ 4 ZONING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.

4.1 
The district boundary lines shown on the Zoning District Map are usually along streets, alleys, property lines, or extensions thereof. Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of districts as shown on the Official Zoning District Map, the following rules shall apply:
A. 
Boundaries indicated, as approximately following the centerline of streets, highways or alleys shall be construed to follow such centerline.
B. 
Boundaries indicated, as approximately following platted lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines.
C. 
Boundaries indicated, as approximately following City limits shall be construed as following City limits.
D. 
Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed to be midway between the right-of-way lines.
E. 
Boundaries indicated as following the centerline of creeks, streams or drainage ways shall be construed to follow such centerline, and in the event of change in the centerline shall be construed to move with such centerline.
F. 
Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of features indicated with Subsections A through E above shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the official Zoning District Map shall be determined by the scale of the Map.
G. 
Whenever any street, alley or other public way is vacated by official action of the City Council or whenever such area is franchised for building purposes, the zoning district line adjoining each side of such street, alley or other public way shall be automatically extended to the centerline of such vacated street, alley or public way and all areas so involved shall then and henceforth be subject to all regulations of the extended districts.
H. 
The zoning classification applied to a tract of land adjacent to a street shall extend to the centerline of the street unless, as a condition of zoning approval, it is stated that the zoning classification shall not apply to the street.
I. 
Where physical features on the ground are at variance with information shown on the official Zoning District Map, or if there arises a question as to how or whether a parcel of property is zoned and such question cannot be resolved by the application of Subsections A through H, or if the zoning of property is invalidated by a judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, the property shall be considered classified as “A-O” (Agriculture/Open) in the same manner as provided for newly annexed territory.
J. 
Zoning changes which are still valid and which were made between the effective date of the previous Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 0-02-07, as amended), adopted on March 19, 2007, and the effective date of this Ordinance are indicated in approximate locations on the Zoning District Map. For exact legal descriptions, refer to adopting ordinances for each particular zoning change.
(Ordinance O-02-07 adopted 3/19/07)

§ 5 COMPLIANCE REQUIRED.

All land, buildings, structures or appurtenances thereon located within the City of Kaufman, Texas which are hereafter occupied, used, constructed, erected, removed, placed, demolished, or converted shall be occupied, used, erected, altered, removed, placed, demolished or converted in conformance with the zoning regulations prescribed for the zoning district in which such land or building is located as hereinafter provided or subject to penalties as per Section 7.3 of this Ordinance. All of the standards and regulations prescribed herein shall be considered as the minimum requirement unless explicitly stated otherwise. Parks and Recreation projects as recommended by the Park Board and approved by the City Council may be required to meet the design requirements as specified in the “Time-Saver Standards for Landscape Architects” latest edition in lieu of specific Development Standards listed herein where appropriate to ensure the highest level of quality and safety of construction for recreational facilities.
No uses shall be allowed which are prohibited by State or Federal law or which operate in excess of State or Federal environmental, pollution or performance standards as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Texas Air Control Board (TACB), Texas State Department of Health (TSDH), The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as the case may be.
(Ordinance O-02-07 adopted 3/19/07)

§ 6 ZONING UPON ANNEXATION.

6.1 
As soon as practical following annexation, but in no event more than one hundred and twenty (120) days thereafter, the City Council shall, on its own motion, initiate proceedings to establish the zoning on the newly annexed territory, thereupon the Director, or his designee, shall commence public notification and other standard procedures for zoning amendments as set forth in Section 10 of this Ordinance. Said proceedings to establish zoning may be undertaken concurrently with annexation procedures (i.e., notified at the same time, public hearings scheduled at the same time as annexation, etc.), however zoning approval and formal adoption of the ordinance establishing zoning must occur after annexation approval/adoption has occurred and as a separate and distinct City Council action.
6.2 
The initial zoning of a land parcel, whether interim in nature, by initiation of the landowner or by initiation of the City, must meet the requirements for notification and public hearings as set forth in Section 10 of this Ordinance, Section 9.04 of the City Charter, and all other applicable State laws.
6.3 
The owner of land to be annexed may submit an application for zoning the property simultaneously with submission of the petition for annexation, but no such annexation application may be made conditioned upon the approval of any particular zoning classification.
6.4 
Within an area classified as "A-O" (Agriculture/Open):
A. 
No permit for the construction of a building or use of land shall be issued by the Building Official, or his designee, other than a permit which will allow the construction of a building or use permitted in the "A-O" district, unless and until such territory has been classified in a zoning district other than the "A-O" district by the City Council in the manner prescribed by Section 10, except as provided in Subsection B below.
B. 
If plans and/or preparations for developing a property for a use other than those specified in the "A-O" district were already in progress prior to annexation of the property into the City of Kaufman, then the City Council may authorize construction of the project by a majority vote. Application of this subsection is contingent upon the following:
1. 
An application for a building permit for the proposed building/use must be made to the Building Official of the City of Kaufman (or his designee) within three (3) months after annexation of the property into the City; and
2. 
The applicant must be able to demonstrate that plans and other preparations for developing the property commenced prior to (i.e., were already in progress at the time of) annexation into the City.
In its deliberations concerning authorization to proceed with construction of a project which meets the above criteria, City Council shall take into consideration the appropriate land use for the area as shown on the City's Future Land Use Plan. Upon approval by the City Council, the City Manager (or his designee) shall notify the Building Official (or his designee) of such approval.
(Ordinance O-02-07 adopted 3/19/07)

§ 7 PENALTIES AND NONCONFORMITIES.

7.1 
Effect of Interpretation
- In interpreting and applying the provisions of this Ordinance, they shall be held to the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public safety, health, convenience, comfort, prosperity, or general welfare. It is not intended by this Ordinance to interfere with or abrogate or annul any easements, covenants or other agreements between parties, provided, however, that where this Ordinance imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings or premises or upon height of buildings, or requires larger open spaces than are imposed or required by agreements, the provisions of this Ordinance shall govern.
7.2 
Preserving Rights in Pending Litigation and Violations Under Existing Ordinances
- By the passage of this Ordinance, no presently illegal use shall be deemed to have been legalized unless specifically such use falls within a use district where the actual use is a conforming use. Otherwise, such uses shall remain nonconforming uses where recognized, or an illegal use, as the case may be. It is further the intent and declared purpose of this Ordinance that no offense committed, and no liability, penalty, or forfeiture, either civil or criminal, incurred prior to the time the existing Zoning Ordinance was repealed and this Zoning Ordinance adopted, shall be discharged or affected by such repeal; but prosecutions and suits for such offenses, liabilities, penalties, or forfeitures may be instituted or causes presently pending proceeded with in all respects as if such prior ordinance had not been repealed.
7.3 
Penalty for Violations
- Any person or corporation violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall, upon conviction, be fined any sum not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) and each and every day that the provisions of this Ordinance are violated shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. In addition to the said penalty provided for, the right is hereby conferred and extended upon any property owner owning property in any district, where such property owner may be affected or invaded, by a violation of the terms of the Ordinance, to bring suit in such court or courts having jurisdiction thereof and obtain such remedies as may be available at law and equity in the protection of the rights of such property owners.
7.4 
Validity
- If any section, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase, or provision of this Ordinance shall be adjudged invalid or held unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of this Ordinance as a whole or any part or provision thereof other than the part so decided to be invalid or unconstitutional.
(Ordinance O-02-07 adopted 3/19/07)