2007-010-ORD-Imposing a 120 day moratorium on the erection, construction, reconstruction, and placement of billboards, electronic signs, and off-premises signes within the city limits

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Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby in a11 things approved. Section 2. That for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days from and after the effective date of this ordinance, no application for a sign permit, under Chapter 28 of the City Code of Ordinances or application for a specific use permit, under the City Zoning Ordinance, shall be accepted by the City of Paris, Texas for a billboard sign, electronic sign or off-premises sign (as defined herein) upon any property located within the corporate city limits of the City of Paris, Texas. Section 3. That during the term of this moratorium, City staff is hereby directed not to accept any applications for a sign permit, under Chapter 28 of the Paris City Code of Ordinances or application for specific use permit, under the City Zoning Ordinance, for a billboard sign, electronic sign or off-premises sign to be located in the corporate city limits of the City of Paris, Texas; any documents received purporting to apply for such a permit shall be returned to the applicant along with a copy of this ordinance and any application for a permit declined for processing pursuant to this ordinance shall be considered administratively incomplete. Section 4. That the City Manager, City Attorney, and the City staff sha11 be and are hereby instructed during the term of this moratorium to develop and propose new regulations for the future location, construction, reconstruction or alteration of billboard signs, electronic signs, and off premise signs in the City of Paris, Texas as described herein and to present said regulations to the City Council for their consideration and adoption. Section 5. That this ordinance does not prohibit and shall not be construed to prohibit the granting of any permit for the construction, reconstruction, installation or alteration of a billboard sign, electronic sign or off-premises sign in any circumstance in which a properly completed, administratively complete application for said permit was submitted in accordance with all applicable City rules and regulations prior to the effective date of this ordinance. Section 6. That any permit lawfully issued by the City of Paris for a billboard sign, electronic sign or off premises sign, prior to the effective date of this ordinance, shall expire two years from the date of issuance if reasonable progress toward completion of the permitted sign is not shown. Section 7. That the moratorium created by this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days from and after the effective date hereof, unless earlier repealed by an official act of the Paris City Council or extended by an official act of the Paris City Council. Section 8. That any person, association, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity that constructs, reconstructs, installs or significantly alters a billboard sign, electronic sign or off-premise sign within the city limits of Paris, Texas during the term of this moratorium, except as authorized herein, commits an offense which is punishable by a fine of up to $500.00 per violation; each day or portion thereof during which a violation of this ordinance continues shall be deemed a separate violation.