This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Town of Tusten Zoning Law." Hereinafter, this chapter is sometimes referred to as "this Zoning Law," "this Law," or "this law."

The various statements of purpose, intent and findings are legislatively adopted along with the formal text of this chapter. They are intended as a legal guide to the administration and interpretation of this chapter and shall be treated as legislative history.

Upon the effective date of this chapter, the law entitled "Zoning Law of the Town of Tusten," as adopted on [day-month and year], together with all changes and amendments thereto, shall be superseded and reenacted, readopted, restated and amended to read as set forth in this chapter, except as may otherwise herein be provided. This readoption and reenactment shall not affect any pending or prevent any future prosecution of any action to abate any violation existing at the time this chapter is enacted, if the use is in violation of the provisions of this chapter. Nothing herein shall be deemed to change the status of nonconforming uses created by virtue of the Zoning Ordinance adopted [day-month and year], as amended, if such uses remain nonconforming under the provisions of this chapter.[1]

The purposes of this chapter, its regulations and its zoning and overlay districts are to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the present and future inhabitants of the Town; guard against loss of life and damage to property due to flooding through protection of natural drainage features; preserve features of historical significance; encourage the most appropriate development of the Town in accordance with the Town of Tusten Comprehensive Plan; preserve open space, encourage the preservation of the scenic and natural assets of the Town, and of the rural residential character of the Town, and to discourage commercial or industrial development that is inconsistent with such preservation; protect property values; regulate location and use of buildings and the uses of land within each district with regard to residential, commercial, light industrial, and other purposes; lessen congestion in streets; secure safety from fire, flood, panic, and other dangers; provide adequate light and air and acceptable noise levels; prevent overcrowding of land and avoid undue concentration of population; facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewage disposal, parks and other public requirements; and establish districts in which regulations concerning the size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lots that may be covered, the size of yards, and the use of buildings, structures and land for trade, commerce, residence, and other purposes are restricted and regulated as hereinafter provided.

If the provisions of any article, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or part of this chapter shall be adjudicated invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such adjudication shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder this chapter, and such adjudication shall be confined in its operation to the specific article, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or part thereof held to be invalid.