Fayette Title, Intent and Purpose ordinance (§ 405.020)

A. Title. These regulations may be referred to as the "zoning ordinance."

B. Intent And Purposes.

1. These regulations have been based upon the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Fayette which was adopted by the Planning Commission of Fayette on August 1, 1969, said Comprehensive Plan included estimates of population growth, land use surveys, a land use plan, plans for major thoroughfares, other transportation facilities, community facilities, public services and utilities, and a public works program.

2. Need for public services and facilities in both size and location depends upon the character and intensity of land use. Regulation of the use of land is thus fundamental to the coordinated optimum physical development of the community. The land use regulations are intended to be the foundation of the entire process of improvement of the physical environment.

3. The regulations are intended to preserve and protect existing property uses and values against adverse or unharmonious adjacent uses.

4. The land use regulations divide the area into a number of zoning districts.

a. Because of poor drainage, steep slopes and other natural conditions, some land areas should be kept in their natural state. These would be placed in a conservation district.

b. The Comprehensive Plan included estimates of the land area requirements for the various land uses such as commerce, residences, industry, transportation, and public uses. These urban uses should be directed into that land area where they may be most efficiently served by public services and facilities as sewers, water, schools, parks and the like. Remaining lands should be reserved for rural uses. Consequently, the regulations include a rural district for non-urban land uses.

c. In the past, residential neighborhoods have deteriorated because they were invaded by small isolated commercial uses and by more intensive residential uses such as duplexes or apartment building. The great majority of our population desire to, and do live in single-family homes which they own and which are located on fairly large lots. The regulations establish residential districts particularly designed to provide maximum protection for single-family homes.

d. Other residential districts are established for two-family homes and for apartments. Density, yard and parking regulations would ensure good living conditions in these areas.

e. Commercial districts recognize the different types of commercial areas that will be needed by the future growth of the community. There is a zoning district for the use of neighborhood commercial area, i.e., the grocery store-drug store complex serving the adjacent residential neighborhoods. There is a central commercial district for the downtown area.

f. For industry there is a "light" industrial district for non-obnoxious manufacturing.

g. A special district has been established for the college.

h. The regulations emphasize character as well as location and density of the land uses. Special inducements are offered for good design of apartment areas. Landscape planting is required in all front yards and for automobile filling stations, parking lots and garages. Advertising is carefully controlled.

i. The regulations are reasonable in relation to existing conditions. Yard dimensions are adjusted to peculiarities of existing lots. Lots that are now too small may be used. Non-conforming uses are permitted to continue for adequate time periods.

j. All uses are required to provide their own off-street parking (with a few exceptions). Over a period of years enforcement of this requirement will enable streets to be used primarily for traffic movement.

k. Each of the regulations has been designed to work harmoniously with the others with the totality providing that minimum degree of land use control essential to the realization of the optimum urban environment.