10-1-2: PURPOSE AND INTENT:
   (A)   This title is adopted for the purpose of:
      1.   Promoting and protecting the public health, safety, comfort, morals, convenience and general welfare.
      2.   Securing adequate natural light, pure air and safety from fire and other dangers.
      3.   Conserving the taxable value of land and buildings.
      4.   Enhancing aesthetic values generally throughout the city.
   (B)   To these ends this title is intended to accomplish certain standards and objectives by:
      1.   Dividing the entire city into districts and restricting and regulating therein the location, construction, reconstruction, alteration and use of buildings, structures and land, whether for residential, business, manufacturing or other special uses;
      2.   Avoiding or lessening congestion in the public streets;
      3.   Preventing the overcrowding of land through regulating and limiting the height and bulk of buildings hereafter erected as related to land area;
      4.   Establishing, regulating and limiting the building or setback lines on or along streets, alleys or property lines;
      5.   Regulating and limiting the intensity of the use of lot areas, and regulating and determining the area of open spaces within and surrounding such buildings;
      6.   Establishing standards to which buildings or structures therein shall conform;
      7.   Promoting uses, buildings or structures compatible with the character of the residence, business or manufacturing districts;
      8.   Preventing additions to, and alterations or remodeling of, existing buildings or structures in such a way as to avoid the restrictions and limitations hereunder imposed;
      9.   Providing for the gradual elimination of those uses, buildings and structures which are incompatible with the character of the districts in which they are located, including, without being limited thereto;
         (a)   Elimination of such uses of unimproved lands or lots when the existing rights of the persons in possession thereof are terminated, or when the uses to which they are devoted are discontinued;
         (b)   Elimination of uses to which such buildings and structures are devoted, if they are adaptable for permitted uses; and
         (c)   Elimination of such buildings and structures when they are destroyed or damaged in major part as hereinafter provided, or when they have reached the age fixed herein as the normal useful life of such buildings or structures;
      10.   Defining and limiting the powers and duties of the administrative officers and bodies as hereinafter provided; and
      11.   Prescribing penalties for the violation of the provisions of this title, or of any amendment thereto. (1977 Code)