Cortez Land Use Code Chapter 1 - General Provisions (Public Review Draft)

Review and comment on Chapter 1 of the Cortez Land Use Code using the below digital PDF. Click anywhere on the document to add a comment. 

Learn more about the update on the City's website here>>

Purpose: Describes the purpose of the LUC, how non-conforming properties are treated, and how Code violations are handled.

What Changed:

• Added a new title and effective date section and simplified severability language
• Developed a new optional opt-in process to track legal nonconforming properties
• Revised definition of abandoned nonconforming use as being vacant for 12 months (6 months per current Code)
• Nonconforming structure provisions updated per the following:
  
  • Allow property owners to enlarge nonconforming structures as long as they don’t exceed dimensional standards for the zone district
  • Changed partial destruction definition from relating to fire and natural causes to any cause
  • Changed partial destruction parameters to relate to square footage of structure rather than assessed value
• Nonconforming signs decommissioning requirement has changed from January 1, 1989 to within 3 years of the effective date of this Code
• Developed new options to remedy violations that include civil options that can be tailored to the violation
• Vested Property Rights now become automatic with final approvals

What remains the same:

• Purpose statement, and enactment and repeals sections
• General authority and jurisdiction of the document
• Relationship to other plans, resolutions, and ordinances
• Definition of how to determine nonconforming status