Columbia Purpose ordinance (§ 29-1.2)

The purpose of this chapter is to regulate land use, site development, and the subdivision of land in Columbia, Missouri, and to implement the vision and recommendations for the city in the comprehensive plan for the city, as that plan may be amended over time. Additional purposes include the coordination of land uses, subdivisions of land, and property development with adequate traffic and infrastructure capacities; providing for the safe, orderly, and economic use of streets and transportation facilities; ensuring adequate movement of emergency vehicles; promoting the orderly use and layout of land; complying with all federal and state laws related to land use; reducing the risks of flooding and flood-related loss and damage; preserve features of historical significance and protecting designated historic resources; ensuring proper legal description and monumenting of subdivided land; protecting stable residential neighborhoods; providing adequate open spaces for traffic, recreation, light and air; promoting economic development; promoting efficient administration of land use controls; promoting effective public engagement in land use decisions; encouraging efficient patterns of land use; promoting a variety of housing choices; preserving trees and preventing erosion on disturbed areas; controlling storm water drainage and sediments from rainfall on graded areas; requiring adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, parks, schools, playgrounds, stormwater management facilities, and other services and facilities necessary to serve new development or redevelopment; and otherwise protecting the public health, safety, and welfare.