HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-2016-3642 Dangerous Commercial Building Located at 2511 S. Broadway St.ORDINANCE NO. 2016-3642
AN ORDINANCE DECLARING THE COMMERICAL BUILDING LOCATED AT LOTS
FIVE (5) AND SIX (6), BLOCK 1373, TOWN OF LA PORTE, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 2511 S. BROADWAY ST. TO BE IN FACT A NUISANCE;
ORDERING SUCH BUILDING CONDEMNED; FINDING THAT J.M. WELCH, MIKE
AARSCOTT, AND JOANN WELCH ARE THE RECORD OWNERS OF SAID PROPERTY;
ORDERING THE SAID OWNERS TO ENTIRELY REMOVE OR TEAR DOWN SUCH
BUILDING; ORDERING THE SAID OWNERS TO COMMENCE SAID REMOVAL OR
DEMOLITION WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
ORDINANCE; AND TO COMPLETE SAID REMOVAL OR DEMOLITION WITHIN FORTY-
FIVE (45) DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ORDINANCE; ORDERING THE
DANGEROUS BUILDING INSPECTION BOARD TO PLACE A NOTICE ON SAID
BUILDING; ORDERING THE CITY SECRETARY TO FORWARD A COPY OF THIS
ORDINANCE TO SAID OWNER; PROVIDING FOR THE REMOVAL OF SAID BUILDING)
BY THE CITY OF LA PORTE IF NOT REMOVED BY SAID OWNERS IN THE MANNER
PROVIDED HEREIN; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF; AND FINDING
COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of La Porte, passed and approved Section 82-472
of the Code of Ordinances, creating a Dangerous Building Inspection Board (the Board to be
composed of the Building Official or his duly authorized representative, the Fire Chief or his duly
authorized representative, the Fire Marshal or his duly authorized representative; and
WHEREAS, Section 82-474 (a) provides that:
Whenever it shall come to the attention of the Board or any member thereof, by reason of
the carrying out of the necessary duties of such member, or by reason of a complaint of any citizen
of the City or of the City Council, that a dangerous building exists, the Board shall make a thorough
inspection of such building(s); and
WHEREAS, Section 82-474 (e) provides that:
After the inspection provided for in this Section has been made, with or without the aid of
experts, the Board shall report its conclusion in writing to each of the members of the City Council
and to the City Attorney. Such report shall state the circumstances and the condition of the
building(s) upon which such conclusion was based. The report shall be filed in all cases no matter
what conclusion is stated by the Board; and
Ordinance No.
Page 2
WHEREAS, it has heretofore come to the attention of the Board that the commercial
structure at LOTS FIVE (5) AND SIX (6), BLOCK 1373, TOWN OF LA PORTE, HARRIS
COUNTY, TEXAS, which is further described as 2511 S. BROADWAY ST., Harris County,
Texas, has become dangerous or substandard and thereby a public nuisance, as established in
Section 82-473 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of LaPorte; and
WHEREAS, said Board has heretofore made and filed its written report, dated APRIL 11,
2016 finding said building to be in fact a dangerous building;
WHEREAS, City Council received such report, and ordered notice to the record owners of
said property that a hearing as provided in Section 82-477 of said Ordinance would be held at 6:00
PM on SEPTEMBER 12, 2016, at 604 W. Fairmont Parkway, at the Council Chambers, City Hall,
City of La Porte, Texas, at which time the Council would hear further evidence for and against the
conclusions of the Board;
WHEREAS, the City of La Porte has heretofore served notice of said hearing upon said
owner(s), by posting a notice on the subject property on or about AUGUST 12, 2016; and by
registered mail, return receipt requested, which notice was shown by USPS as "notice left, no
authorized recipient available" on AUGUST 18, 2016; a date more than ten (10) days before the
date set for said hearing;
WHEREAS, at said date, time, and place, City Council met in regular session to conduct
such public hearing, at which time evidence was presented both for and against the conclusions of
the Board, at which time the hearing was concluded;
WHEREAS, City Council, after due deliberation, and within fifteen (15) days after the
termination of the hearing, is required to make its decision in writing and enter its order; and
WHEREAS, City Council entered its order on SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 a day
which is within fifteen (15) days after the termination of the hearing; NOW THEREFORE:
Ordinance No. Page 3
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE:
Section 1. This Ordinance contains the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and
orders of the City Council of the City of LaPorte, based upon the evidence presented at said
hearing.
Section 2. Based on the evidence presented at said hearing, the City Council hereby
adopts the attached report of the Board, in full, and incorporates such by reference herein as fully
as though set out herein.
Section 3. The City Council hereby finds, determines and declares such building,
being a commercial structure, to be a public nuisance, and orders such building condemned.
Section 4. The City Council hereby finds, determines and declares that J.M. WELCH,
MIKE AARSCOTT, AND JOANN WELCH are the record owners of the property on which the
aforementioned commercial structure situated, and that as such record owners, the said J.M.
WELCH, MIKE AARSCOTT, AND JOANN WELCH have been duly and legally notified of
those proceedings.
Section 5. The City Council hereby orders the said J.M. WELCH, MIKE
AARSCOTT, AND JOANN WELCH to entirely remove or demolish such building including all
slabs, parking bays and driveways, and further orders the said J.M. WELCH, MIKE AARSCOTT,
AND JOANN WELCH to commence such removal within ten (10) days from the effective date
of this Ordinance, and to complete said removal or demolition within forty-five (45) days from the
effective date of this ordinance.
Section 6. The City Council hereby orders the Board of the City of La Porte to cause
a notice of the dangerous, unsanitary condition of the building to be affixed in one or more
conspicuous places on the exterior of the building, which notice or notices shall not be removed
or defaced by any person, under penalty of law.
Ordinance No.
Page 4
Section 7. The City Council hereby orders the City Secretary to forward a certified
copy of this Ordinance, to the record owner of said property and to any and all lienholders or
mortgagees, by registered mail, return receipt requested; file a copy of this Ordinance in the office
of the City Secretary; and, publish in the official newspaper of the city a notice containing: 1) the
street address or legal description of the property, 2) the date of the public hearing, 3) a brief
statement indicating the results of the hearing, and 4) instructions stating where a complete copy
of this Ordinance may be obtained.
Section 8. Should the said J.M. WELCH, MIKE AARSCOTT, AND JOANN
WELCH not comply with the orders contained in this Ordinance relating to the removal or
demolition of such building including all slabs, parking bays and driveways within forty-five (45)
days after hereof, then the City of La Porte shall enter upon the said premises with such assistance
as it may deem necessary, and cause the said building to be removed or demolished without delay,
and the expenses of such procedure shall be charged against the said record owners of said
property, and shall thereupon become a valid and enforceable personal obligation of said owner of
such premises, and the said City shall carefully compute the cost of such removal or demolition,
which cost shall be hereafter assessed against the land occupied by such building, and made lien
thereon.
Section 9. The City Council officially finds, determines, and recites and declares that
a sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of this meeting of the City Council
was posted at a place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the City for the time required by
law preceding this meeting, as required by the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551, Texas
Government Code; and that this meeting has been open to the public as required by law at all times
during which this ordinance and the subject matter thereof has been discussed, considered and
formally acted upon. The City Council further ratifies, approves and confirms such written notice
and the contents and posting thereof.
Ordinance No.
Page 5
Section 10. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage
and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the In day of 2016.
11
CITY OF LAP S
By:
Lo 's R. RigJyj4ayor
ATTEST:
Patrice Fogarty, Ci ecre
APPROVED:
Clark T. Askins, Assist. City Attorney