(A) Adoption. The town is hereby divided into zoning districts as shown on the town’s official zoning map, which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter.
(B) Format. The official zoning map is maintained in the form of a machine readable representation of a geographic phenomenon stored for display or analysis by a digital computer. The digital zoning database stored in the Geographic Information System (GIS) is hereby designated, established, and incorporated as a part of these regulations and originals thereof, which are on file at the Planning/Zoning Department, shall be as much a part of these regulations as if they were fully described in these regulations. Upon adoption of this chapter and any amendment thereto, the Planning/Zoning Department may produce a paper version of the official zoning map.
(C) Amendments. If amendments are made in zoning district boundaries in accordance with the procedures of § 153.043, such amendments shall be effective upon final approval of the ordinance by Town Council and shall be updated by the Planning/Zoning Department on the zoning database promptly after the amendment has been approved by Town Council.
(D) Location. The original version of the official zoning map shall be stored in the office of the Planning/Zoning Department. The official zoning map shall be updated at least annually. In case of any dispute regarding the zoning classification of property subject to this chapter, the official zoning map maintained by the Planning/Zoning Department shall control.
(E) Corrections and replacement. In the event that the official zoning map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost, the Town Council may, by resolution, adopt a new official zoning map, which shall supersede the prior official zoning map. The new official zoning map may correct drafting and other errors or omissions in the prior official zoning map, but no such correction shall have the effect of amending the original official zoning map, as amended. The new official zoning map shall be marked, “This Official Zoning Map, adopted by resolution of the Town Council of the Town of James Island, South Carolina, on (date) supersedes the Official Zoning Map adopted (date) of the Town of James Island,” which statement shall be signed by the Mayor, attested by the Town Clerk, and bear the seal of the town. Unless the prior official zoning map is lost or has been totally destroyed, the map or any significant parts thereof remaining after partial destruction shall be preserved, together with all records of the town regarding its adoption and amendment.
(F) Interpretation of zoning district boundaries. Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundary of any zoning district shown on the zoning map, the following rules shall apply.
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, district boundaries follow lot lines; center lines of streets, highways, alleys, or railroads; center lines of water courses or impoundments of streams, reservoirs, or other bodies of water.
(2) Where so indicated, district boundaries are parallel to the center lines of streets, highways, or railroads, or rights-of-way of same, or the center lines of streams, reservoirs, or other bodies of water, or said lines extended as such distances therefrom as indicated on the zoning map. If no distance is given, distance shall be determined by the use of the scale on the zoning map.
(3) Where any district boundary is indicated on the zoning map as approximately following the town boundary line or the corporate limits line of any incorporated place within the town, then such town boundary line or corporate limits line shall be construed to be the actual district boundary.
(G) Marsh boundaries. With the exception of lands within the ownership of national forests, swampland, wildlife refuges and any other publicly designated areas, the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) shall determine the boundaries and have jurisdiction over critical areas. Fresh water wetlands shall have boundaries set by the Army Corps of Engineers.
(H) Zoning of additional land areas. It is the intent of this chapter that every part of the land area of the incorporated town be included in one of the zoning districts established by this chapter. Any land area that comes under the jurisdiction of this chapter or does not appear to be included in a zoning district shall be classified in the NRM-25 District unless an alternative classification is approved by the Town Council in accordance with the zoning map amendment procedures of §§ 153.040 through 153.055. The Town Council reserves the right to annex property and such annexed tracts, parcels, or lots of land may be annexed with zoning categories being similar in use, planned use, or vested right.
(Ord. 2012-06, § 1.10, passed 10-18-2012; Ord. 2012-21, passed 12-20-2012)