§ 52-3. General purposes.

(a)

It is the purpose of this Land Development Code to:

(1)

Implement the comprehensive plan of the city; to promote the health, safety, general welfare and quality of life in the city;

(2)

Guide the orderly growth and development of the city;

(3)

Establish rules of procedure for land development approvals;

(4)

Enhance the character of the city and the preservation of neighborhoods; and

(5)

Enhance the quality of life of all residents and property owners of the city.

(b)

It is the purpose of this Land Development Code to create value for the citizens of the city by:

(1)

Allowing property owners to enhance the value of their property through innovative and creative redevelopment;

(2)

Ensuring that development and redevelopment will not have a negative impact on the value of surrounding properties and wherever practicable promoting development and redevelopment which will enhance the value of surrounding properties; and

(3)

Strengthening the city's economy and increasing its tax base as a whole.

(c)

It is the purpose of this Land Development Code to promote economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and regional cooperation to sustain efforts through which development will protect regionally significant water and other environmental resources.

(d)

It is the purpose of this Land Development Code to make the beautification of the city a matter of the highest priority and to require that existing and future uses and structures in the city are attractive and well-maintained to the maximum extent permitted by law.

(e)

It is the purpose of this Land Development Code to:

(1)

Provide for adequate light, air and privacy;

(2)

Secure safety from fire, flood and other damage;

(3)

Prevent overcrowding of the land and undue congestion of population;

(4)

Improve the quality of life for the citizens of the city;

(5)

Protect the character and the social and economic stability of all parts of the city through the establishment of reasonable standards which encourage the orderly and beneficial development of land within the city;

(6)

Protect and conserve the value of land throughout the city and the value of buildings and improvements upon the land, and minimize the conflicts among the uses of land and buildings;

(7)

Provide the most beneficial relationship between the uses of land and buildings and the circulation of traffic throughout the city, with particular regard for safe and efficient vehicular and pedestrian traffic movement;

(8)

Preserve the natural resources and aesthetic character of the community for both the resident and tourist population consistent with the city's economic underpinnings;

(9)

Provide for open spaces through efficient project design and layout that addresses appropriate relationships between buildings on the project site and adjoining properties, including public rights-of-way and other public places;

(10)

Protect and improve the quality of water resources and wetlands in both interior and coastal areas and preserve floodplains, drainage ways, and other natural areas having beneficial hydrological characteristics and functions;

(11)

Establish zoning districts of a size, type, location and with standards that reflect the existing and desirable characteristics of a particular area within the city;

(12)

Establish permitted uses corresponding with the purpose and character of the respective zoning districts and limit uses within each district to those uses specifically authorized;

(13)

Establish use limitations for specified uses consistent with the zoning district in which they are allowed and the particular characteristics of such specified uses;

(14)

Numerate density, area, width, depth, height, setback, coverage and like requirements for each district, and make appropriate distinctions between categories of use within districts, based on the general purposes of this chapter, the comprehensive plan, and existing and desired community characteristics; and

(15)

Coordinate the provisions of this Land Development Code with corollary provisions relating to parking, fences and walls, signs, minimum habitable area and like supplementary requirements designed to establish an integrated and complete regulatory framework for the use of land and water within the city.

(Ord. No. 2007-12, exh. A(ch. I, § 3), 8-22-2007)