HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-2023-3939ORDINANCE NO. 2023 - 3939
AN ORDINANCE DECLARING THE BUILDING LOCATED ON LOTS 22 AND 23,
BLOCK 61, TOWN OF LA PORTE, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, MORE COMMONLY
KNOWN AS 0 BROADWAY ST., LA PORTE, TEXAS, SAID BUILDING BEING
IDENTIFIED MORE PARTICULARLY AS ONE RESIDENTIAL ACCESSORY
BUILDING, TO BE IN FACT A NUISANCE; ORDERING SUCH BUILDING
CONDEMNED; FINDING THAT ISBELL INVESTMENTS, LLC IS THE RECORD
OWNER OF SAID PROPERTY; ORDERING THE SAID OWNER TO ENTIRELY
REMOVE OR TEAR DOWN SUCH BUILDING; ORDERING THE SAID OWNER 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 BUILDINGS;
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 OWNER 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
Ordinance No. 2023-3939
Page 2
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
WHEREAS, it has heretofore come to the attention of the Board that the residential
accessory building located at 0 BROADWAY ST., La Porte, Harris County, Texas, and which is
further described as LOTS 22 AND 23, BLOCK 61, TOWN OF LA PORTE, 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 JANUARY
18, 2023, finding such building to be in fact a dangerous building; and
WHEREAS, City Council received such report, and ordered notice to the record owner of
said property that a hearing as provided in Section 82-477 of said Ordinance would be held at 6:00
PM on MAY 22, 2023, 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; and
WHEREAS, the City of La Porte has heretofore served notice upon said owner(s), by
posting a notice on the subject property on or about APRIL 11, 2023; and by registered mail, return
receipt requested, which notice was mailed on APRIL 11 2023 a date more than ten (10) days
before the date set for said hearing; furthermore, notice of the aforementioned public hearing date
was published in the newspaper; and
WHEREAS, at said date, time, and place, City Council met in regular session to conduct
such public hearings, at which time evidence was presented both for and against the conclusions
of the Board, at which time the hearing was concluded; and
Ordinance No. 2023-3939
Page 3
WHEREAS, City Council, after due deliberation, and within fifteen (15) days after the
termination of the MAY 22, 2023, hearing, is required to make its decision in writing and enter its
order; and
WHEREAS, City Council entered its order on MAY 22, 2023, a day which is within
fifteen (15) days after the termination of the hearing; NOW THEREFORE:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE:
Section I. This Ordinance contains the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and
orders of the City Council of the City of La Porte, 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 residential
accessory building to be a public nuisance, and orders such buildings condemned.
Section 4. The City Council hereby finds, determines and declares that ISBELL
INVESTMENTS, LLC is the record owner of the property on which the aforementioned
residential accessory building is situated, and that as such record owner, the said individual has
been duly and legally notified of those proceedings.
Section S. The City Council hereby orders the said ISBELL INVESTMENTS, LLC
to entirely remove or demolish such residential accessory building including all slabs, parking bays
and driveways, and further orders the said ISBELL INVESTMENTS, LLC 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.
Ordinance No. 2023-3939
Page 4
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 said buildings, which notice or notices shall not be removed
or defaced by any person, under penalty of law.
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 S. Should the said ISBELL INVESTMENTS. LLC 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 buildings to be removed or demolished without delay, and the expenses of such procedure
shall be charged against the said record owner 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
Ordinancc No. 2023-3939
Page 5
formally acted upon. The City Council further ratifies, approves and confirms such written notice
and the contents and posting thereof
Section 10. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage
and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 22nd day of MAY 2023.
ATTEST:
A 9A Ey)j \*Wu-) t)
Lee Woodward, City Secretary t.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Clark T. Askins, Assist. City Attorney
CITY OF LLA j ERAS
By:
L uis . Rigby, Wor
LA PQ,.... o
1{�4�a•� "r`�• ��t�si
°WR"�'s coU�`���'