2005-04-11 Regular Meeting and Workshop Meeting of the La Porte City Council

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ARTICLE II. ADMINlSTRA TION* Page 4 of6 - recoup the current remaining useful investment in the property made prior to the date of the order of the board of adjustment establishing the extended useful life period. The board of adjustment shall hold a public hearing, as required by subsection (b) below, to establish an extended useful life period or to consider an application by the nonconforming user for exemption from the extended useful life and termination requirements set forth in this section 106-266. If the board of adjustment grants an exemption, the use shall be known as an "exempted nonconforming use." If the board of adjustment does not grant an exemption, it shall establish an extended useful life period subsequent to the hearing procedure established in subsection (b). If an application for exemption from extended useful life is not submitted, the board of adjustment shall establish an extended useful life period pursuant to subsection (c). (b) Public hearing. (1) The board of adjustment shall hold a public hearing to establish an extended useful life for each nonconforming use subject to notification pursuant to section 106-264, or to consider an application for an exemption from the extended useful life and termination requirements of this section as allowed in section 106- 265 and this section, but subject to the following notification requirements: fa. Written notice of the time and place of a public hearing, by certified mail, return receipt requested and .. postage prepaid, to the owner and occupant of the nonconforming use at least 30 days prior to the date of such ! public hearing; b. Publication at least 30 days prior to the date of public hearing of a notice of the time and place of the hearing in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the city; and c. Mailing of the notice of public hearing at least 30 days prior to the date of the public hearing to property owners within 200 feet, as determined pursuant to section 106-89, of the lot line of the land subject to the ~ application, inclusive of streets, alleys and rights-of-way, and to civic associations registered with the planning 1\ director, whose boundaries are wholly or partly within said 200 foot area. (2) Upon notification of the time and place of the public hearing, the owner or occupant of the nonconforming use to be subject to the extended useful life requirements of this ordinance may apply to the planning director for an exemption from extended useful life and termination pursuant to section 106-265 and include written information and documentation supporting a claim for an exemption from any extended useful life period. In the event the board of adjustment does not grant the exemption applied for, it shall establish an extended useful life period based on (i) applicable law, (ii) evidence submitted with the application, (iii) evidence presented at the hearing and (iv) other factors consistent with the purpose of this zoning ordinance to allow the owner to recoup the current remaining useful investment in the use made prior to the effective date of the order of the board of adjustment establishing the extended useful life period, specifically including but not limited to the testimony of experts in the field of property appraisal. The owner's or applicant's failure to submit evidence to support an extended useful life period shall be considered a waiver by the owner or applicant of any right to contest at the board of adjustment the length of any extended useful life period that the board of adjustment establishes. (c) Extended useful life period. In the event the owner or qualified occupant does not apply for exemption from an extended useful life period, the board of adjustment, at the public hearing, shall establish an extended useful life period based on (i) applicable law, (ii) evidence presented at the public hearing and (iii) other factors deemed relevant by the board of adjustment, to allow the owner or qualified applicant to recoup the current remaining useful investment in the use made prior to the effective date of this zoning ordinance, specifically including but not limited to testimony of experts in the field of property appraisal. The extended useful life shall not be for less than five ears nor more than 20 years from the effective date of theusefullife eriod~nless the boar etermmes upon the basis 0 testimony from experts in the field 0 property appraisal presented at the public heanng, that an extenSIOn ot the usetul hte penod IS necessary to enable the property owner to recou e curren remammg use ul investment in the roperty ma e pnor to the date of the order of the oard of adjustment es a IS mg t e exten e use lIfe peno. - --'~--- (d) ~nd oJ extended usefulliJe period. At the end of the extended useful life period established by the board of adjustment for a particular use, the use'shall terminate. .~ (Ord. No. 1501-Z-1, ~ 5(exh. D), 2-9-98) "" http://library5.municode.com/gateway.dll/txItexas/9160/9329/9331?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm ... 4/11/2005