A. 
This Title is adopted under the authority granted by §§ 62.23(7), 87.30 and Ch. 236, Wis. Stats., as may be amended.
B. 
For the purposes listed in §§ 236.01 and 236.45, Wis. Stats., as may be amended, the Common Council of the City of Onalaska, Wisconsin, does hereby ordain that the provisions of this Title shall be held to be minimum requirements adopted to promote the health, safety, morals, comfort, prosperity and general welfare of the City of Onalaska.
A. 
This Title shall be known as, referred to and cited as the "Unified Development Code, City of Onalaska, Wisconsin" and is hereinafter referred to as the "UDC" or "Title."
A. 
The purpose of this Title is to promote the comfort, health, safety, morals, prosperity, aesthetics and general welfare of the residents of the City of Onalaska, Wisconsin, by establishing minimum regulations and restrictions for the use of all lands, waters, and structures in the City to:
1. 
Divide the City into zones or districts restricting and regulating therein the location, erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, appearance, form and use of buildings, structures and land for residence, business and manufacturing and other specified uses;
2. 
Protect the character and the stability of the residential, business, manufacturing and other districts within the City and to promote the orderly and beneficial development thereof;
3. 
Regulate lot coverage, the intensity of use of lot areas and the size and location of all structures so as to prevent overcrowding and to provide adequate sunlight, air, sanitation and drainage;
4. 
Regulate population density and distribution so as to avoid sprawl and to facilitate the provision of adequate public services, utilities and other public requirements;
5. 
Regulate parking, loading and access so as to promote the safety and efficiency of streets and highways;
6. 
Secure safety from fire, panic, flooding, pollution, contamination and other dangers;
7. 
Stabilize and protect existing and potential property values and encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the City;
8. 
Preserve and protect the beauty of the City of Onalaska through careful siting of structures in bluff areas, preservation of unique landscapes and the encouragement of good design and architecture;
9. 
To provide for the elimination of nonconforming uses of land, buildings and structures which are adversely affecting the character and value of desirable development in each district;
10. 
Prevent and control erosion, sedimentation and other pollution into surface and subsurface waters;
11. 
Prevent flood damage to persons and property and minimize expenditures for flood relief and flood control projects;
12. 
Implement those municipal, county, watershed and regional comprehensive plans or components of such plans adopted by the City of Onalaska.
A. 
Jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of this Title shall apply to all structures, lands, water and air within the corporate limits of the City of Onalaska.
B. 
Compliance. No new structure, new use of land, water or air or change in the use of land, water or air shall hereafter be permitted and no structure or part thereof shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered without proper zoning and full compliance with the provisions of this Title and all other applicable local, county and state regulations.
A. 
It is not intended by this Title to repeal, abrogate, annul, impair or interfere with any existing easements, covenants, deed restrictions, agreements, rules, regulations or permits previously adopted or issued pursuant to law. However, whenever this Title imposes greater restrictions, the provisions of this Title shall govern.
A. 
If any section, clause, provision or portion of this Title is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Title shall not be affected thereby.
B. 
If any application of this Title to a particular structure, land or water is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall not be applicable to any other structure, land or water not specifically included in said judgment.
C. 
The City does not guarantee, warrant or represent that only those areas designated as floodlands will be subject to periodic inundation and hereby asserts that there is no liability on the part of the City of Onalaska, its agencies or employees for any flood damages, sanitation problems or structural damages that may occur as a result of reliance upon and conformance with this Title.
A. 
Applications for licenses, permits, and other approvals under this Title shall not be accepted by the City until the Financial Services Director/Treasurer certifies that all real estate taxes, personal property taxes, special assessments and other fees or charges then due and owing to the City of Onalaska by the applicant or which relate to the property for which the license, permit, approval, or application is requested, have been paid in full.
A. 
Enforcement. It shall be the duty of the Zoning Administrator or designated agent to enforce the provisions of this Title.
B. 
Compensation. No compensation shall be allowed for any building or development erected in violation of this Title, which is razed by any government agency, for street, highway, railroad right-of-way or parkway purposes.
C. 
Penalties. Any person, firm or corporation who fails to comply with the provisions of this Title shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the forfeiture and such additional penalties as provided for in Title 1 of the City of Onalaska Code of Ordinances.
D. 
The City of Onalaska may impose a special charge in accordance with § 66.0627, Wis. Stats, as may be amended, should the owner of any lands fail to comply with the provisions of this Title.