Littlefield, TX Zoning Ordinance

Littlefield City Zoning Code

ARTICLE 8

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES BY THE CITY MANAGER

§ 8.01 Administrative Classification Allowed for Uses Not Listed.

Determination of Comparable Use.

The City Manager may, when a proposed use is requested but not listed within a District, determine the comparability of the use to a listed permitted use and permit that use to occupy a parcel within the zoning district most closely conforming to the proposed use. Any appeal of the administrative decision shall be to the Zoning Board of Adjustment and must be filed with the City Secretary within 15 days of the date of the mailing of the decision.

Administrative Adjustments.

Administrative adjustments are specified deviations from otherwise applicable development standards where development is proposed that would be (1) compatible with surrounding land uses; (2) in keeping with the public interest and (3) consistent with the purposes of this Zoning Ordinance.

Administrative Adjustments Allowed.

The City Manager shall have the authority to grant only the following administrative adjustments:

Areas with relatively narrow roadways not bordered by curbs and generally uncharacteristic of urban streets allow an increase in the floor area of a residential accessory building above 50 percent of the total square footage of the principal structure, as long as the maximum floor area ratio for the District is not exceeded.

Authorize the construction of a carport in the minimum front or side yard required for one-family or two-family homes, subject to the findings, criteria and general considerations set forth in Section 15 [Section 15.10].

Authorize a variance of up to 10 percent from the numerical standard set forth in Article 8 or Section 15 [Article 15.]

EXAMPLE: Minimum front yard requirement of 20 feet may be varied by up to 10% to a minimum of 18 feet.

Allow an all-weather surface to be substituted for the requirement to pave the minimum off-street parking spaces required for single-family residences and commercial properties, where the City Manager makes a finding that the character of the surrounding area is principally recreational or rustic in nature, with relatively narrow roadways not bordered by curbs and generally uncharacteristic of urban streets.

Submission of Application. A complete application for an Administrative Adjustment shall be submitted to the City Manager, along with the appropriate application fee.

Action by City Manager. After determining that the application is complete, the City Manager shall review the application and approve, approve with conditions or deny the application based upon the criteria below. A written decision including affirmative findings on the criteria set forth below shall be mailed to the applicant.

Administrative Adjustment Criteria. To approve an application for an Administrative Adjustment, the City Manager shall make an affirmative finding that the following criteria are met:

That granting the Administrative Adjustment will ensure the same general level of land use compatibility as the otherwise applicable standards.

That granting the Administrative Adjustment will not materially and adversely affect adjacent land uses and the physical character of uses in the immediate vicinity of the proposed development because of inadequate buffering, screening, setbacks and other environmental considerations.

That granting the Administrative Adjustment will not adversely affect value of nearby property in any material way.

That granting the Administrative Adjustment will be generally consistent with the purposes and intent of this Zoning Ordinance.

Appeals. Appeal of an administrative adjustment to the Zoning Board of Adjustment shall be made within fifteen (15) days of the mailing of the City Manager’s decision.

(Ordinance 2019-0129-4 adopted 1/29/19; Ordinance 2020-0526-1 adopted 5/26/20)

§ 8.02 Written Interpretations of Text or Official Zoning Map.

Authority.

The City Manager shall have authority to make all written interpretations concerning the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance and the Official Zoning Map.

Request for Interpretation.

A request for interpretation shall be submitted to the City Manager in a form established by the City Manager and made available to the public[.]

Interpretation by City Manager.

Within 10 working days after a request for interpretation has been submitted, the City Manager shall: (1) review and evaluate the request based on the text of this Zoning Ordinance, the Official Zoning Map, the Comprehensive Plan and any other relevant information; (2) consult with other staff, as necessary; and (3) render an opinion. The interpretation shall be provided to the applicant in writing by mail.

Official Record. The City Manager shall maintain an official record of interpretations. The record of interpretations shall be available for public inspection during normal business hours.

Appeal of Administrative decision. Any applicant in disagreement with an administrative decision may seek an interpretation for correctness by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.