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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1341 12-08-1998ORDINANCE NO. 1341 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EULESS, TEXAS, CHAPTER 84, "UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE" TO PROVIDE FOR THE TERMINATION OF NONCONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES BY THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT THROUGH A PLAN OF AMORTIZATION BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 84-59; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY CLAUSE; AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, it is the policy of the City of Euless that nonconforming uses and structures shall be eventually discontinued and the use of such premises shall be required to conform to the city's then zoning regulations; and WHEREAS, the City of Euless in the exercise of its police powers has the authority to terminate existing property uses rendered nonconforming under zoning regulation through a plan whereby full value of the structure or use can be amortized within a definite period of time; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Euless desires to amend its Uniform Development Code to specifically authorize such termination of nonconforming uses and structures. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EULESS, TEXAS: I. That ARTICLE III., Entitled: "NONCONFORMANCE" of Chapter 84, "Unified Development Code" of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Euless, Texas, as amended, is herewith and hereby amended by the addition of a new Section 84 -59 to be entitled, and to be and read as follows: "Sec. 84 -59 Amortization of nonconforming uses. (a) The board upon the request of the city or the owner of property which is a nonconforming use shall initiate an action to bring about the discontinuance of the nonconforming use by a date certain. (b) The board shall conduct a hearing for the purpose of determining a date certain for termination of the nonconforming use or structure with respect to the property. If such action is initiated by the city prior notice of such hearing shall be given to the property owner. (c) The date established for termination of the nonconforming use or structure is to give the property owner an opportunity to recover its investment in the nonconforming structure or use from the time such property or structure became nonconforming. (d) The board shall measure the reasonableness of the opportunity for recoupment of the property owner's investment by conditions existing at the time such use or structure became nonconforming. (e) The following factors must be considered by the board in determining a reasonable amortization period: (i) The owner's capital investment in structures, fixed equipment, and other assets (excluding inventory and other assets that may be feasibly transferred to another site) made on the property before the time the use became nonconforming. Costs of replacements, improvements or additions made after the property became nonconforming shall not be included. (ii) Any costs that are directly attributable to the establishment of a compliance date, including demolition expenses, relocation expenses, termination of leases, and discharge of mortgages. (iii) Any return on investment since inception of the use, including net income and depreciation. (iv) Recovery of investment, including net income and depreciation. (v) General character of the neighborhood in proximity to the nonconforming use and the necessity for all property within the city of Euless to conform to the regulations of the Unified Development Control Document of the City of Euless. (f) Once the board establishes a compliance date for a nonconforming use, the use must cease operations on that date and it may not operate thereafter unless it becomes a conforming use." Il. Severability Clause. That it is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this ordinance are severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared invalid or unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the City Council without the incorporation in this ordinance of any such invalid or unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section. ORDINANCE NO. 1341 PAGE 2 III. Saving Clause. That Chapter 84, also known as the Euless Unified Development Code, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Euless, Texas, as amended, shall remain in full force and effect, save and except as amended by this ordinance. IV. Penalty for Violation. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the terms and provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount not to exceed $2,000.00. Each such violation shall be deemed a separate offense and shall be punishable as such hereunder. 1� Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as provided by the Euless City Charter and the laws of the State of Texas. PRESENTED AND GIVEN FIRST READING and approved at a regular meeting of the Euless City Council on the 8th day of December 1998; by a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays and 0 abstentions. APPROVED: Mary Lib S eh, Mayor ATTEST: A1�11 usan Crim, MC, City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: ob cFarland, ity Attorney 5520M ORDINANCE NO. 1341 PAGE 3