This zoning ordinance of the city of Prospect Heights is adopted for the purpose of:
A. Promoting and protecting the public health, safety, morals, comfort and general welfare of the city;
B. Ensuring high standards of light, air and open space in areas where people live and work;
C. Encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the city;
D. Conserving and enhancing the value of land and buildings;
E. Preventing overcrowding of land with buildings and, thereby, ensuring maximum living and working conditions, and preventing blight and slums;
F. Avoiding undue concentration of population;
G. Fostering a rational pattern of land use relationships between residential and nonresidential uses;
H. Protecting residential, business and industrial areas alike from harmful encroachment by incompatible uses, and ensuring that land allocated to a class of uses shall not be usurped by other inappropriate uses;
I. Preventing such additions to, and alterations or remodeling of, existing buildings or structures as would not comply with the restrictions and limitations imposed hereinafter;
J. Checking existing congestion and preventing future congestion by limiting development of land to a degree consistent with the ability of the city to furnish adequate public services;
K. Preserving and increasing those amenities which are characteristic of the city;
L. Defining the powers and duties of the administrative officers and bodies as provided hereinafter;
M. Prescribing penalties for the violations of the provisions of this title or any amendment hereto;
N. Protecting the air, water and land resources of the city from the hazards of pollution;
O. Preserving and maintaining the essential character of the city as it exists as of the date of adoption of this comprehensive title and as established by the nature of its residential development, the height of structures, open areas and existing amenities;
P. Lessening or avoiding the hazards to persons and damage to property resulting from the accumulation or runoff of storm or flood waters;
Q. Providing for the orderly and functional arrangement of land uses and buildings; and fixing reasonable zoning standards to which buildings or structures shall conform;
R. Establishing standards for the orderly development or redevelopment of neighborhoods, or functional and geographic parts of neighborhoods;
S. Providing adequate locations for housing, employment, shopping, education and recreation for the public;
T. Facilitating the adequate provision of transportation, utility systems, schools, parks and other public requirements;
U. Promoting the economic diversity of the community and enhancing opportunities for participation in the economic and social systems of the community;
V. Providing for the gradual elimination of nonconforming uses of land, buildings, and structures which are adversely affecting the character and value of desirable development in each district. (Ord. 0-77-27, 7-18-1977)