Chapter 20.02 — GENERAL PROVISIONS

This title shall be known as the zoning ordinance of the city. (Prior code § 19.04.010 (Ord. 557 § 102, 1964))

The purpose of this title is to encourage, classify, designate, regulate, restrict and segregate the highest and best location for and use of buildings, structures and land for agriculture, residence, commerce, trade, industry, water conservation, or other purposes in appropriate places; to regulate and limit the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures hereafter designed, erected or altered; to regulate and determine the size of yards and other open spaces; and to regulate and limit the density of population; and, for these purposes, to divide the city into districts of such number, shape, and area as may be deemed best suited to carry out these regulations and provide for their enforcement. Further, such regulations are deemed necessary in order to encourage the most appropriate use of land; to conserve and stabilize the value of property; to provide adequate open spaces for light and air and to prevent and fight fires; to prevent undue concentration of population; to lessen congestion of streets; to facilitate adequate provisions for community utilities such as transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks, and other public requirements; and to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare. (Prior code § 19.04.020 (Ord. 557 § 101, 1964))

The city attorney shall prescribe the form of all applications provided for in this title. Each application provided for in this title shall be signed by one or more owners or lessees or a bona fide representative of such owners or lessees of the property in respect to which the application is filed. In all cases, such applications shall be provided in the office of the city engineer.

(Prior code § 19.96.010 (Ord. 557 § 410, 1964))

The commission may establish its own rules for the conduct of public hearings and the member presiding at such hearing shall have power to administer oaths to any person testifying. The commission may for any reason, when it deems such action necessary or desirable, continue any hearing to a certain date, time, and place, and public announcement of such date, time, and place of hearing to be continued shall for all purposes be sufficient notice thereof to all persons.

(Prior code § 19.96.020 (Ord. 557 § 411, 1964))

Any building or structure set up, erected, constructed, altered, enlarged, converted, moved or maintained contrary to the provisions of this title, and any use of land, building or premises established, conducted or operated or maintained contrary to the provisions of this title is declared to be unlawful and a public nuisance; and the city attorney, at the request of the city engineer, shall immediately commence action or proceedings for the abatement and removal and the enjoining thereof in the manner prescribed by law. The remedies provided in this title shall be cumulative. (Ord. 586 § E(D), 1966: prior code § 19.96.030 (Ord. 557 § 412, 1964))