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• <br />Section 4-204• Application for Exemption from Amortization Requirement <br />• Owners or occupants of non-conforming uses may apply to the Board of <br />Adjustment for an exemption from the amortization and termination requirements <br />of Section 4-205. The grounds for exemption shall be that the non-conforming <br />use has no adverse impact on allowed land uses in the district or can be made <br />compatible by complying with specified conditions. An exemption granted by the <br />board may include a specfic term or conditions to ensure reasonable <br />compatibility. Said exemption could later be revoked through a similar hearing <br />process (Section 4-206). Failure to apply for an exemption requires the Board of <br />Adjustment to establish an amortization schedule. <br />Section 4-205: Amortization and Termination <br />• The Board of Adjustment shall hold Public Hearings to establish an amortization <br />period for non-complying uses. Unless an exemption is granted, all non- <br />conforming uses terminate at the end of the amortization period (a set time frame, <br />not to exceed 30 years). <br />Section 4-206: Revocation of Non-Conforming Use Status <br />• Any one of the following situations could initiate a Board of Adjustment action on <br />apre-existing non-conforming use. If the Planning Director, surrounding property <br />owners, or the Zoning Board of Adjustment believe that anon-confirming use <br />materially interferes with implementation of the Zoning Ordinance, a hearing may <br />be held to consider limitation or revocation of the non-conforming use. Reasons <br />for revocation could be: too much noise, emission of odors, too much traffic <br />generated, improper hours of operation, lack of compliance with previously issued <br />exemptions, City Codes or Ordinances, criminal activity, or other similar factors. A <br />residential use that is non-conforming in the particular district in which such use is <br />located shall not be subject to revocation. <br />Section 4-500: Termination of Liquor Sale Establishments etc <br />• All bars, lounges, taverns or other liquor sales establishments shall lose <br />conforming status on expiration of their current liquor license, unless they are <br />located in a General Commercial or Industrial Zone. <br />Miscellaneous Notes <br />• Structures that are accessory to anon-conforming use shall not continue after the <br />non-complying use has terminated, unless it complies with zoning district <br />regulations (Section 4-200). <br />• Decisions by City and by Board of Adjustment may be appealed in accordance <br />with Section 211.011 of the Texas Local Government Code (Section 4-204 (c) and <br />Section 4-206 (g)). <br />• There were no proposed changes to Section 4-300 non-conforming lots of record. <br />• Structures are not subject to tear-down by the City, unless pursuant to City of La <br />Porte Dangerous Building Procedures. <br />