(a) The purpose of this section is to establish a framework and uniform rules for location and boundaries of zoning districts established by this chapter.
(b) Unless otherwise determined by the City Council the zoning district boundary lines shall be established as follows:
(1) Zoning districts abutting municipal boundaries shall utilize those boundaries;
(2) When an existing roadway, alley or railroad right-of-way or centerline is a zoning district boundary line and that right-of-way is vacated or legally discontinued, the zoning district boundary line shall remain in place;
(3) When a channel centerline of a river, stream or water course is a zoning district boundary line and there is a natural change in the location of the channel centerline, the zoning district boundary shall be considered to have moved with the channel centerline;
(4) District boundary lines for the Conservation SC, Flood Hazard FH Overlay, and Bluff Protection BP Overlay Districts may also be described as following a specific datum elevation contour above mean sea level between specified reference points. District boundary areas for the Bluff Protection BP Overlay District may also be described as steep slopes of 18% or greater over a horizontal distance of 25 feet or longer; and
(5) Where a dimensioned zoning district boundary line coincides approximately but not exactly with a lot line which did not exist on the effective date of incorporation of the zoning district boundary line into the zoning district map, the lot line shall be the zoning district boundary line at that location.
(6) Ponds, lakes and other submerged areas:
(A) When entirely within or enclosed by a primary zoning district, the pond, lake or submerged area shall have the same primary zoning unless otherwise described;
(B) When a pond, lake or other submerged area abuts two or more primary zoning districts and is not located entirely within one of them nor described in a separate district, the boundaries of each abutting primary zoning district shall be extended in a straight line across the pond, lake or submerged area until intersection with another district boundary; and
(C) Primary zoning district boundaries shown as following the shorelines of any pond, lake, or submerged area shall be considered to follow the ordinary high water line and, in event of a natural change in the ordinary high water line, shall be considered to have moved with the ordinary high water line.
(c) Wherever a direction and distance is given as a zone boundary, it is intended and shall be construed to mean a line parallel to the physical feature such as street centerline or right-of-way line last described.
(d) Wherever a strip of land is referred to, it is intended and shall be construed to mean abutting upon the last described physical feature.
(1958 Code, § 8.02) (Ord. 54, passed 12-18-1961, renumbered to § 7.02; Ord. 64-33, passed 5-18-1964; Ord. 66-25, passed 4-18-1966; Ord. 72-38, passed 7-17-1972; Ord. 74-81, passed 10-7-1974; Ord. 86-4, passed 1-27-1986; Ord. 86-42, passed 7-7-1986; Ord. 2002-3, passed 2-19-2002; Ord. 2008-1, passed 1-14-2008; Ord. 2020-19, passed 6-1-2020)