This Ordinance shall be known and cited as the Red Oak Zoning Ordinance.

The Zoning Ordinance establishes criteria for Comprehensive Zoning Standards and District Mapping and is hereby approved and adopted.

The zoning regulations as herein established have been made in accordance with an adopted Comprehensive Plan for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the City. They have been designed to lessen the congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to insure adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue concentration of population; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, circulation, water, sewage, schools, parks and other public requirements. They have been made with reasonable consideration, among other things, for the character of each 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.

Other policies and standards contained herein pertaining to the use and development of land, or improvements thereof, are to guide and coordinate the development of land for the benefit of individual parcels and tracts and the City as a community.

The Ordinance is adopted pursuant to the laws of the State of Texas, Local Government Code, Chapter 211 and 212 and the appropriate provisions of the City of Red Oak Charter which govern the zoning and subdivision of land.

The Ordinance shall be effective for all areas within the boundaries of the City.

A person commits an offense if the person uses, occupies, or sells any land or buildings or to authorize and permit the use, occupancy, or sale of land or buildings under his control except in accordance with all the applicable provisions of this Code.

For purposes of this section, the “use” or “occupancy” of a building or land relates to anything and everything that is done to, on, or in that building or land.

It is the intention of the City Council that this Ordinance implement the planning policies adopted by the City Council for the City, as reflected in the land use plan and other planning documents. While the Council reaffirms its commitment that this Ordinance and any amendment are in conformity with adopted planning policies, the City Council hereby expresses its intent that neither this Ordinance nor any amendment may be challenged on the basis of any alleged nonconformity with any planning document.

Reasonable fees sufficient to cover the costs of administration, inspection, publication of notice and similar matters may be charged to applicants for zoning permits, sign permits, specific use permits, plat approval, zoning amendments, variances and other administrative relief. The amount of the fees charged shall be as set forth in the City’s budget or as established by resolution of the Council filed in the office of the City Secretary.

Fees established in accordance with Subsection 1.8.1 shall be paid upon submission of a signed application.

Donation boxes shall only be permitted to be placed on property located within the following zoning districts: Commercial District-1 Highway Oriented District, Commercial District-2, Industrial District, and any Planned Development District with the above-referenced underlying zoning district in accordance with this Chapter.