81R11821 PAM-F

By: Uresti S.B. No. 2439

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to granting certain local governments general zoning authority around certain military facilities; providing a penalty.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 7, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 241A to read as follows:

CHAPTER 241A. MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY ZONING AUTHORITY AROUND

AIR FORCE FACILITY

Sec. 241A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Air force facility" means a base or station of the United States Air Force.

(2) "Centerline" and "compatible land use" have the meanings assigned by Section 241.003.

(3) "Controlled compatible land use area" means an area of land located outside airport boundaries and within a rectangle bounded by lines located not more than five nautical miles from the centerline of the landing strip and lines located not more than five nautical miles from each end of the paved surface of the landing strip.

Sec. 241A.002. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; PURPOSE. (a) The legislature finds that:

(1) the area that surrounds an air force facility will be frequented for military and national security purposes by residents from many parts of the state and nation;

(2) an air force facility is essential to the economic viability of the surrounding local community, the state, and the nation;

(3) orderly development and use of the area is of concern to the entire state;

(4) without adequate development regulations, the area will tend to become congested and to be used in ways that interfere with the proper use of the area as a secure location for the continuation of a military establishment; and

(5) it is imperative for the local community to protect the viability of current and future missions at an air force facility by ensuring compatible land uses are developed within the controlled compatible land use area.

(b) The powers granted under this chapter are for the purposes of:

(1) promoting the public health, safety, peace, morals, and general welfare;

(2) protecting and preserving places and areas of military and national security importance and significance; and

(3) encouraging state and national security.

Sec. 241A.003. AREAS SUBJECT TO REGULATION. This chapter applies only to the area that extends not more than five nautical miles from the centerline and not more than five nautical miles from each end of the paved surface of the landing strip at an air force facility located in a county with a population of 60,000 or less.

Sec. 241A.004. DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS GENERALLY. (a) The governing bodies of a municipality and the county in the regulated area through a joint airport zoning board established under Section 241A.005 may regulate:

(1) the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures;

(2) the percentage of a lot that may be occupied;

(3) the size of yards, courts, and other open spaces;

(4) population density;

(5) the location and use of buildings, other structures, and land for business, industrial, residential, or other purposes; and

(6) the placement of water and sewage facilities, landfills, parks, and other required public facilities.

(b) A regulation adopted under this chapter does not apply to a land use that relates to agricultural, irrigation, or hunting activities unless the joint airport zoning board makes a finding, confirmed by each governing body, that the regulation is necessary to regulate an agricultural, irrigation, or hunting activity that interferes with an activity on the air force facility.

Sec. 241A.005. JOINT AIRPORT ZONING BOARD. (a) To exercise the authority granted under this chapter, the governing bodies of a municipality and the county in the regulated area shall appoint a joint airport zoning board to assist in the implementation and enforcement of development regulations adopted under this chapter.

(b) The membership of the board is composed of:

(1) two members appointed by the county judge of the county;

(2) two members appointed by the presiding officer of the governing body of the municipality;

(3) one member who owns land in the regulated area appointed jointly by the county judge of the county and the presiding officer of the governing body of the municipality;

(4) one member who owns at least 500 acres in the regulated area appointed jointly by the county judge of the county and the presiding officer of the governing body of the municipality; and

(5) one member appointed jointly by the members appointed under Subdivisions (1) through (4), who serves as the presiding officer of the board.

(c) The board shall perform the duties assigned under this chapter and other duties as requested by the governing bodies to implement this chapter.

Sec. 241A.006. PROCEDURE GOVERNING ADOPTION OF REGULATIONS AND DISTRICT BOUNDARIES. (a) A development regulation adopted under this chapter is not effective until it is adopted by the governing bodies of a municipality and the county in the regulated area after a joint public hearing. Before the 15th day before the date of the hearing, the governing bodies of the municipality and the county must publish notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.

(b) The governing bodies of a municipality and the county in the regulated area may prohibit or restrict development in the area based on recommendations issued in a resolution adopted by the joint airport zoning board. The board's recommendations must be based on the most recent Air Installation Compatible Use Zone Study and the most recent Joint Land Use Study. The governing bodies of a municipality and the county may amend regulations adopted under this chapter:

(1) based on amended recommendations issued in a resolution adopted by the joint airport zoning board as the studies are periodically updated; and

(2) if each governing body makes findings that the conclusions of the studies on which each governing body is basing its findings accurately reflect development circumstances in the subject area.

(c) The governing bodies of a municipality and the county in the regulated area may adopt or amend a development regulation only by an order passed by a majority vote of the full membership of each governing body.

Sec. 241A.007. COMPLIANCE WITH STUDIES AND PLANS. Development regulations must be:

(1) adopted in accordance with the most recent Air Installation Compatible Use Zone Study and the most recent Joint Land Use Study for growth and development surrounding the air force facility;

(2) adopted in accordance with the county plan for growth and development of the county; and

(3) coordinated with the comprehensive plan of the municipality.

Sec. 241A.008. DISTRICTS. (a) The joint airport zoning board may divide the area regulated under this chapter into districts of a number, shape, and size the board considers best for carrying out this chapter.

(b) Development regulations may vary from district to district.

Sec. 241A.009. SPECIAL EXCEPTION. (a) A person aggrieved by a development regulation adopted under this chapter may petition the governing bodies of a municipality and the county in the regulated area for a special exception to the development regulation. The grant of a special exception requires a majority vote of the full membership of each governing body.

(b) The governing bodies of a municipality and the county in the regulated area shall adopt procedures governing applications, notice, hearings, and other matters relating to the grant of a special exception.

Sec. 241A.010. ENFORCEMENT; PENALTY. (a) The governing bodies of a municipality and the county in the regulated area shall adopt ordinances, orders, or development regulations, as applicable, to enforce this chapter.

(b) A person commits an offense if the person violates this chapter or an ordinance, order, or development regulation adopted under this chapter. An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $500 or more than $1,000. Each day that a violation occurs constitutes a separate offense. Trial shall be in the district court.

Sec. 241A.011. COOPERATION AMONG LOCAL ENTITIES. The governing bodies of a municipality and the county in the regulated area and the joint airport zoning board may enter into an agreement to cooperate in the drafting, implementation, and enforcement of development regulations adopted under this chapter.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.