This chapter shall be known as the Code of Planning and Zoning Regulations of the City of Meadows Place.

(Prior Code, § 24-101; Ord. 85-036, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-1985)

This chapter is adopted pursuant to the Constitution of the State of Texas and provisions of V.T.C.A. Local Government Code ch. 212, V.T.C.A. Loc. Government Code chs. 211 and 216, and all other provisions of the laws of the state which are currently applicable or which may be later enacted or determined applicable.

(Prior Code, § 24-102; Ord. 85-036, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-1985)

This chapter is adopted for the purpose of promoting and protecting the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the residents, citizens and inhabitants of the city and for the general welfare of the community. The provisions of this chapter are the requirements necessary to accomplish these purposes as specifically delineated in this chapter. This chapter is further adopted in order to regulate the use of land within the city so as to promote orderly and healthful development, good government, peace and order of the city and the trade and commerce thereof, as may be necessary or proper to carry into effect the powers vested in the city by the Constitution and laws of the state.

(Prior Code, § 24-103; Ord. 85-036, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-1985)

(A)

The purpose of this comprehensive plan.

(1)

This comprehensive plan is adopted as a present statement of policy by the city and as a guide for future land use decisions within the city. The policies contained herein are intended as a guide for and to be implemented by the city's land use regulations, capital improvement expenditures and other programs, including cooperative efforts with other governmental agencies and the private sector. The plan should be reviewed by the planning and zoning commission on an annual basis, and the commission should submit an annual report together with recommended changes, if any, to the city council.

(2)

If the city council determines at any time that any of the policies of this plan should be modified, each and every policy contained herein should be re-evaluated because of their interrelated nature.

(B)

Policies.

(1)

General. The City of Meadows Place is predominately a residential community. One of the city's greatest attributes is its ability to protect the integrity of its residential neighborhoods and to minimize any adverse effects of commercial development on existing residential neighborhoods through its zoning power. To this end, maximum height limits and minimum setbacks are established. Deed restrictions are also enforced in residential neighborhoods and should be considered in determining land use policies.

(2)

Residential.

(a)

Existing residential neighborhoods and existing residences should be maintained and protected through land use controls and, where possible, enhanced by public and private investment and improvements.

1.

The density of new or replacement residential development in existing residential neighborhoods should be consistent with and comparable to the densities permitted in the neighborhoods under the zoning classifications in this chapter.

2.

The city's land use controls should promote and facilitate the improvement, rehabilitation and, where necessary, the replacement of the city's existing residences.

3.

The city should make capital improvements, including sewer and water service systems and neighborhood roadways, which will support and upgrade existing residential neighborhoods.

(b)

All development in or adjacent to existing residential neighborhoods should be designed and located so as to minimize any adverse effects on existing residential uses and, where possible, to ensure that new development constitutes a benefit to the residential neighborhood.

1.

Where nonresidential structures are permitted adjacent to residential neighborhoods, a buffer zone shall exist to allow a transition with respect to size and floor area for structures immediately adjacent to the residential neighborhood.

2.

Ingress and egress to all new development near to adjacent to existing residential neighborhoods should be designed so that nonlocal traffic to and from the proposed development will not pass through an existing residential neighborhood except by way of primary or secondary arterials.

3.

All new nonresidential development or residential development, other than single-family detached dwelling units, should be buffered and screened so that the new uses, to the maximum extent practicable, are not visible from or intrusive to existing residential uses.

(3)

Business District.

(a)

Undeveloped and developed land located along and north of West Airport Boulevard, between U.S. Highway 59 and Kirkwood Road, excluding present residential areas, will become the center of the city's Business District; and the city shall encourage the location of new commercial uses in this area.

(b)

The economic vitality of the Business District should be promoted. The land use regulations of the city should permit and, where possible, encourage the development of structures in the district.

(c)

The city should restrict the Business District to those uses which are compatible with or which would enhance commercial retail uses. Office and retail uses which would support the commercial activity in the Business District should be encouraged.

(d)

To further promote commercial activity in the Business District, the land use regulations of the city should permit parking lots only as accessory uses to commercial, retail or office use developments.

(4)

U.S. Highway 59.

(a)

To the extent that the land lying adjacent to and in close proximity to U.S. Highway 59 is affected by noise and air pollution and traffic from the highway, it constitutes a distinct area within the city. The city should take whatever steps it can to mitigate these ill effects through orderly and protective planning.

(b)

The intensity of development on those lands lying adjacent to U.S. Highway 59 should be governed by the proximity of any proposed structures to existing residential uses. This development should not adversely impact traffic circulation or water or sewer facilities.

(5)

Lands abutting arterials.

(a)

Lands abutting West Airport Boulevard west of Kirkwood Road may be appropriate for low intensity commercial and/or upper medium density residential uses, provided that ingress and egress is limited so as not to unduly interrupt traffic flow on West Airport Boulevard, and provided that new development is screened and landscaped to avoid the appearance of continuous strip development.

(b)

Lands abutting West Bellfort Avenue may be appropriate for low intensity commercial uses, provided that new development is screened and landscaped to provide a buffer to the adjacent existing residential neighborhoods.

(6)

Public services.

(a)

To the maximum extent permitted by law, no development should be permitted within the city unless the applicant agrees to provide the service infrastructure needed to support the proposed development, including but not limited to water, sewer and streets.

(b)

The adequacy and efficiency of the services provided should be maintained at or above present design characteristics.

(c)

The city believes that the development of open green space contributes to the health, safety and well-being of its residents. Therefore, existing parks should be maintained and improved, and acquisition of additional parks and recreational areas should be encouraged. To this end, private funds and donations should be sought in addition to state and federal funds; and citizen participation in park expansion and development should be encouraged.

(7)

Circulation.

(a)

The existing traffic circulation system of the city has adequate road lane capacity for the citizens of the city. However, existing streets and roads should be maintained at or above their present standard.

(b)

The capacity of the city's roadways should be increased only as is necessary to serve the circulation needs of the residents and property owners of the city.

(c)

The city should encourage and support forms of transportation which are alternates to the private automobile, including pedestrian and bicycle.

(d)

The owners of commercial properties within the city should be encouraged to design and construct accessory use parking lots to provide adequate ingress and egress to and from their developments while at the same time minimizing the impact of traffic from such developments on adjacent public streets and rights-of-way. Whenever possible, traffic from commercial developments should be directed away from the adjacent residential neighborhoods.

(8)

Implementation.

(a)

Relatively uncomplicated forms of development, such as detached single-family residences, should be permitted as of right; and a developer of these uses should only be required to demonstrate compliance with city requirements to city staff in order to secure a building permit.

(b)

The city's land use regulations should guarantee the rights and interests of neighboring landowners and the general public by providing for notice and participatory rights to citizen groups and neighbors. Notice of a proposed change in zoning or a proposed zoning amendment shall be provided to all landowners in the neighborhood affected by the amendment.

(c)

The city's land use regulations should protect the rights and interests of neighboring landowners and the general public by carefully controlling development which could create or allow significantly increased glare, light, shade, wind, traffic, noise, noxious fumes or rainwater runoff to the existing landowners.

(Prior Code, § 24-104; Ord. 85-036, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-1985)

(A)

General application. This chapter shall apply to all structures and the uses of land within the corporate limits of the city. Existing structures and uses which are inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter shall be permitted only as provided for in sections 153.155 through 153.158. All applications for development approval shall be required to meet the requirements of this chapter which are in effect on the date of any permit or authority issued hereunder.

(B)

General prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person to carry out any development or to modify in any way any use or structure existing upon any land within the city, which is inconsistent with the requirements of this chapter.

(C)

Building permits issued prior to enactment of this chapter. This chapter shall not affect lawfully issued building permits which have been finally issued prior to the effective date of this chapter, save and except those building permits so issued which shall have expired, lapsed or been revoked.

(Prior Code, § 24-105; Ord. 85-036, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-1985)

Cross reference— Penalty, see § 153.999.

The provisions of this chapter shall become final, binding and effective upon all property within the city upon the same being finally enacted as evidenced by the ordinance of enactment duly executed by the mayor and the city secretary of the city, the provisions of which shall form a part of this code.

(Prior Code, § 24-106; Ord. 85-036, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-1985)