2007-042-ORD-imposing a moratorium on the issuance of permits for the construction, reconstruction, and placement of billboards and off-premises signs

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WHEREAS, the City Council would like the Task Force to review and study other proposed amendments to the City's sign regulations including those regulations applicable to billboards and off-premises signs and make their recommendation to City Council; and, WHEREAS, the City Council hereby finds and determines that it would be in the best interest of the City of Paris and its citizens to extend the moratorium on the issuance of sign permits for billboards, and off-premises signs for ninety (90) days from and after the effective date of this ordinance to allow city staff, the Code Enforcement Task Force and the City Council additional time to study and consider proposed amendments to the Sign Ordinance including regulations applicable to billboard and off-premises signs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS: Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby in all things approved. Section 2. That, for a period of ninety (90) days from and after the effective date of this ordinance (October 22, 2007), 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 or off-premises sign 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 far 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, 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 shall be and are hereby instructed during the term of this moratorium to develop and propose new regulations for the Sign Ordinance, including regulations applicable to the future location, construction, reconstruction or alteration of billboard signs and off-premise signs in the City of Paris, Texas as described herein and to present said regulations to the Code Enforcement Task Force for their review and recommendation and then 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 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. 2