This Ordinance shall be known and cited as the Glenn Heights Zoning Ordinance.
The Ordinance, as set forth herein, establishes criteria for Zoning Standards and Zoning District Mapping of lands [and] is hereby adopted and approved.
The zoning regulations as herein established have been made in accordance with an adopted Comprehensive Plan for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the City. They have been designed to lessen the congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to insure adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue concentration of population; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, circulation, water, sewage, schools, parks, and other public requirements. They have been made with reasonable consideration, among other things, for the character of the District, and its peculiar suitability for the particular uses specified; and with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the City.
The Ordinance is adopted pursuant to the laws of the State of Texas, Local Government Code, Chapter 211 and the appropriate chapters of the City of Glenn Heights Charter which governs the zoning of land.
The Ordinance shall be effective for all areas within the territorial City Limit and corporate boundaries of the City.
I.6.1 
Subject to Article VI of this Ordinance (Nonconforming Conditions), no person may use, occupy, or sell any land or buildings or authorize or permit the use, occupancy, or sale of land or buildings under his control except in accordance with all the applicable provisions of this Ordinance. Noncompliance of this Ordinance shall be subject to penalties as per Section XX.4.1 (Penalties) of this Zoning Ordinance. All of the standards and regulations prescribed herein shall be considered as the minimum requirement unless explicitly stated otherwise.
I.6.2 
For purposes of this section, the “use” or “occupancy” of a building or land relates to anything and everything that is done to, on, or in that building or land.
I.6.3 
No uses shall be allowed which are prohibited by State or Federal law or which operate in excess of State or Federal environmental, pollution or performance standards as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Texas Air Control Board (TACB), Texas State Department of Health (TSDH), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), or any other applicable State or Federal agency, as the case may be.
I.6.4 
Lots developed under this Zoning Ordinance shall not later be so reduced in area that the setbacks, yards and/or open spaces shall be smaller than those required by this Ordinance.
I.6.5 
No building shall hereafter be erected or altered to have more narrow or smaller front, side or rear yards, or to exceed the maximum height allowed, or to occupy a greater percentage of the lot area, or to accommodate a greater number of families than required by this Zoning Ordinance.
It is the intention of the City Council that this Zoning Ordinance implement the planning policies adopted by the City Council for the City as reflected in the Land Use Plan and other planning documents. While the Council reaffirms its commitment that this Zoning Ordinance and any amendment [are] in conformity with adopted planning policies, the Council hereby expresses its intent that neither this Zoning Ordinance nor any amendment may be challenged on the basis of any alleged nonconformity with any planning document.
I.8.1 
Reasonable fees sufficient to cover the costs of administration, review, inspection, publication of notice and similar matters shall be charged to applicant. These fees shall cover costs associated with processing zoning and development requests, including public hearings that are set by the City of Glenn Heights. The amount of the fees charged shall be as set forth in an ordinance adopted by the City Council and filed in the office of the City Secretary. Such fees shall be paid by the applicant and shall not be designed to in any way restrict the applicant’s ability to seek and receive a hearing or to generate revenue for the City other than recovery of actual administrative costs incurred by the City in the review and processing of applications.
I.8.2 
Fees established in accordance with Subsection I.8.1 shall be paid upon submission of a signed application. Immediately upon receipt of a complete application submission, as defined in Section IV.1.5 (Official Submission Date and Completeness of Application), for a zoning change or other development plan approval the City Manager or his/her designee shall issue a fee receipt and shall create a case file as a permanent City record thereof.
I.8.3 
Applicant shall be responsible to the City for reimbursement of all consultant expenses incurred in relation to their application and project. Said expenses shall be invoiced to applicant by the City and payment is due within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the invoice. Nonpayment of said invoice shall result in no building permit being issued or further action by the City for the applicant being taken.