WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Sachse, did on February 13, 1995, receive the final report of the city planning and zoning commission recommending adoption of this zoning ordinance in its final form and recognizing the need of zoning regulations to properly safeguard the general public welfare, health, peace and safety of the community, the city council determined that this zoning ordinance should be adopted.
1.1 
That Ordinance No. 547 known as the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Sachse, together with all amendments, is hereby repealed, and that there be enacted in lieu thereof the following Comprehensive General Zoning Ordinance of the City of Sachse. However, the zoning maps enacted pursuant to Ordinance [No.] 547, which delineate the boundaries of each use district, are not repealed, but shall continue in full force and effect.
2.1 
It is hereby declared to be the purpose and intent of the city council in enacting this ordinance that the zoning regulations and districts as herein established have been made in accordance with a 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 provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue concentration of population; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, 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 consistent with a comprehensive plan.
3.1 
The boundaries of zoning districts set out herein are delineated upon a zoning district map of the city adopted as part of Ordinance No. 547. Such zoning district maps are continued herein.
3.2 
One original of zoning district map shall be filed in the office of the city secretary. This copy shall be the official zoning district map and shall bear the signature of the mayor and attestation of the city secretary. This copy shall not be changed in any manner. In case of any question, this copy, together with amending ordinances, shall be controlling.
3.3 
An additional copy of the original zoning district map shall be placed in the office of development services. The copy shall be used for reference and shall be maintained up-to-date by posting thereon all subsequent amendments.
(Ordinance 2015, sec. 1, adopted 5/5/03; Ordinance 3947, sec. 2, adopted 10/7/19)
4.1 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following the centerlines of streets, highways or alleys shall be construed to follow such centerlines.
4.2 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines.
4.3 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following city limits shall be construed as following city limits.
4.4 
Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed to be the established, the boundary shall be interpreted to be midway between the right-of-way lines.
5.1 
All land, buildings, structures, or appurtenances thereof located within the city which are hereafter occupied, used, erected, altered or converted shall be used, placed and erected in conformance with the zoning regulations prescribed for the zoning district in which such land or building is located except as hereinafter provided. Land used in meeting the requirements of this ordinance with respect to a particular use or building shall not be used to meet the requirements for any other use or building.
6.1 
By the passage of this ordinance no presently illegal use or building shall be deemed to have been legalized unless such use falls within a use district where the actual use and standards under the terms of this ordinance would be conforming. Any use which does not conform to provisions of this ordinance shall be a nonconforming use or structure if it legally existed as a conforming or nonconforming use or structure prior to adoption of this ordinance or an illegal use if it did not exist as a conforming or nonconforming use or structure, as the case may be. It is further the intent and declared purpose of this ordinance that no offense committed, and no liability, penalty or forfeiture, either civil or criminal, incurred prior to the time the previous zoning ordinance was repealed and this ordinance adopted shall be discharged or affected by such repeal; but prosecutions and suits for such offenses, liabilities, penalties or forfeitures may be instituted or causes presently pending proceeded within all respects as if such prior ordinance has not been repealed.
6.2 
The prior elimination from zoning ordinance of the R-7.2 single-family dwelling district, the R-7.8 single-family dwelling district, and the R-4 single-family dwelling district shall not make lawful buildings, structures or uses presently located in areas presently so zoned as nonconforming. The zoning map of the City of Sachse shall continue to show such areas to be zoned R-7.2 single-family dwelling district, R-7.8 single-family dwelling, and R-4 single-family dwelling district, as the case may be. Article 5, “Nonconforming Uses” of this article shall not apply to such areas. Development or redevelopment within such districts shall be governed by the development standards and allowed uses in effect at the time of the elimination of such zoning categories, and such provisions in the Zoning Ordinance shall be continued for that purpose.
7.1 
All territory hereafter annexed to the City of Sachse, Texas shall be temporarily classified agricultural. The city council, at its own initiative, may establish permanent zoning as soon as practicable.
7.2 
The procedure for establishing the permanent zoning on any annexed territory shall be the same as is provided by law for the amendment of the zoning ordinance as outlined in article 12.
8.1 
Administrative adjustments are specified deviations from otherwise applicable development standards where development is proposed that would be:
(1) 
Compatible with surrounding land uses;
(2) 
Harmonious with the public interest; and
(3) 
Consistent with the purposes of this zoning ordinance.
8.2 
The director of development services shall have the authority to authorize adjustments of up to ten (10) percent from any dimensional standard or numerical requirement set forth in this zoning ordinance. Any adjustment request greater than ten (10) percent shall be treated as a variance handled by the Board of Adjustment (BOA) subject to the requirements of Section 11-4.
8.3 
Administrative Adjustment Criteria:
(1) 
To approve an administrative adjustment, the director of development services shall make an affirmative finding that the following criteria are met:
(a) 
That granting the adjustment will ensure the same general level of land use compatibility as the otherwise applicable standards;
(b) 
That granting the adjustment will not materially or adversely affect adjacent land uses or the physical character of uses in the immediate vicinity of the proposed development; and
(c) 
That granting the adjustment will be generally consistent with the purposes and intent of this zoning ordinance.
(Ordinance 3947, sec. 2, adopted 10/7/19)