Whenever, in the course of administration and enforcement of this ordinance, it is necessary or desirable to make any administrative decisions, then, unless other standards are provided in this ordinance, the decision shall be made so that the result will not be contrary to the spirit and purpose of this ordinance or injurious to the surrounding neighborhood.

In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this ordinance shall be held to the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare.

A.

Where the conditions imposed by any provisions of this ordinance upon the use of land or buildings or upon the height or bulk of buildings are either more restrictive or less restrictive than comparable conditions imposed by any other provision of this ordinance or any other law, or ordinance, of any kind, the provisions which are most restrictive shall apply.

B.

This ordinance is not intended to abrogate any easement, covenant, or any other private agreement provided that where the regulations of this ordinance are more restrictive (or impose higher standards or requirements) than such easements, covenants, or other restrictive agreements, the requirements of this ordinance to the extent that they are more restrictive shall govern.

Nothing contained in this ordinance shall be deemed to be a consent, license, or permit to use any property or locate, construct, or maintain any building, structure, or facility or to carry on any trade, industry, occupation, or activity.

The provisions of this ordinance are cumulative with any additional limitations imposed by all other laws and ordinances heretofore passed or which may be passed hereafter governing any subject matter appearing in this ordinance.

For the purpose of this ordinance the geographical areas situated within the Corporate Limits of the City of Springfield, Tennessee, and the geographical areas situated outside of the Corporate Limits of the City, but within the area designated and denoted as the Springfield Regional Planning Area or, Planning Region, is hereby divided into zones or districts as established by this ordinance and as depicted, delineated and shown on the multi-sheet map entitled "Springfield, Tennessee Official Zoning Atlas" and which said map is made a part of this ordinance by reference as fully as if copied herein verbatim.

The Springfield, Tennessee Official Zoning Atlas shall have endorsed thereon a certificate in the following form: "This is the Springfield, Tennessee Official Zoning Atlas as enacted and adopted pursuant to Appendix A of the Springfield Municipal Code, as amended." Such certificate shall be duly signed by the Mayor and attested by the Recorder with the City seal affixed thereto and shall bear the date that this ordinance shall have become effective.

The Springfield, Tennessee Official Zoning Atlas as herein adopted and as officially identified shall be an official record of the City of Springfield, Tennessee and shall become a permanent document on file in the Office of the Recorder available for public inspection and it shall not be removed from the City Hall except in the care, custody, and control of the Recorder or the Community Development Director.

Hereafter any amendments or changes in the district boundaries of any zone or classification of any property within the City or within the Planning Region shall be done only by amendatory ordinance duly adopted by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen in accordance with this ordinance. Such amendments shall describe the property or area being changed, re-designated or reclassified in such way that the Official Zoning Atlas may be amended or changed by a new sheet or sheets depicting the change in such district or zone boundaries. Any sheet or sheets changed as a result of amendatory ordinances adopted by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen shall bear a certificate on such new sheet or sheets executed by the Mayor and the Recorder reflecting that such new sheets are an amendment to the Official Zoning Atlas and shall bear reference to the ordinance as enacted that provides the same and shall be dated as of the effective date of such amendatory ordinance.

The Community Development Director is responsible and shall cause to be prepared such new sheet or sheets to the Official Zoning Atlas as shall reflect amendatory action. Such new sheet or sheets shall be promptly prepared upon the adoption and approval of such amendatory ordinances.

Any lands or territory annexed into the Corporate Limits of the City shall be zoned in accordance with provision made therefore in the annexation ordinance that may be adopted in connection with the same and shall from the effective date of such annexation be zoned and classified in accordance with such provisions notwithstanding that such area may have previously been within the Regional Planning Area and zoned differently under this ordinance. If no provision is made in the annexation ordinance and such property is within the Regional Planning Area then it shall enter the City in accordance with the zone as previously established for it. If such area is not within the Regional Planning Area and is not automatically zoned by the annexation ordinance bringing such territory within the City, then the same shall automatically be zoned as A-Agricultural District.

Upon any extension of the Springfield Planning Region or, Regional Planning Area, if the lands over which extension is granted are not already zoned, then such land shall automatically be zoned and classified in the A-Agricultural District.

The several provisions, chapters, sections, and subsections of this ordinance are declared to be separable and if any court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge any provision invalid then such judgment shall not affect any other provision hereof not specifically included in said judgment and if any court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge invalid the application of any provision hereof to a particular property, building, or other structure, then such judgment shall not affect the application of said provisions to any other property, building, or structure, not specifically included in said judgment.