HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-013FILE REFERENCE FORM 2015-013
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Amended b Ordinance No. 2015-107 04/14/15 JR
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WHEREAS, the City Cauncil of the City of Denton, Texas adopted Ordinance No. 2014-
137 (the "Moratarium Ordinance") on May 6, 2014, the terms of which are incorporated by
reference, which Moratarium Ordinance imposed until midnight af September 9, 2014, unless
earlier terminated by the City Council, a moratorium on the receipt, processing and approval of
certain applications seeking authorization for gas well drilling and production activities, as
prescribed therein, within the carporate limits of the City of Denton, Texas; and
WHEREAS, the Maratorium Ordinance was adopted to address significant and
compelling enviranmental and land use compatibility concerns associated with gas well drilling
activities occurring in close proximity to residential and other protected uses that have resulted in
negative and deleterious effects on Dentan citizens; and
WHEREAS, as set forth in the Moratorium Ordinance, the City is reviewing its
municipal ordinances and regulations to provide far a fair and equitable system of regulations
relating to gas well drilling and production activities so as to protect the property interests af
mineral estate owners while protecting the rights, opportunities and property interests of surface
estate owners and citizens of the City of Denton, Texas; and
WHEREAS, the City Council amended the Moratorium Ordinance on June 17, 2014 by
adopting Ordinance No, 2014-192, the terms of which are incorporated by reference, to clarify
certain exemptians contained in the Moratorium Ordinance, specifically by revising existing
exemptions and by adding additional exemptions; and
WHEREAS, the City Council amended the Moratorium Ordinance on September 9, 2014
by adopting Ordinance No. 2014-276, the terms of which are incorporated by reference, ta
extend the moratorium until January 20, 2015, sa as to allow additional time for a�draft ordinance
enacting additional regulations related to gas well drilling and productian activities and the
procedures related thereto to be completed by City Staff and to be presented before the Planning
and Zoning Commission and the City Cauncil; and
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WHEREAS, the City Staff has completed a draft set of regulations covering gas well
drilling and production activities and presented them at a Tawn Hall Meeting on Monday,
December 15, 2014, as well as before the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission at
a Joint Public Hearing on Tuesday, December 16, 2014; and
WHEREAS, many members of the public and members supportive of the natural gas
industry attended bath meetings and made comments and asked questions regarding the proposed
draft set of regulations; and
WHE AS, many individuals requested that the Maratorium Ordinance be extended
beyond January 20, 2015, and in fact, one member of the natural gas industry requested an
extension of at least ninety-one (91) days, so as ta allow a more tharough review af the proposed
changes; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with State law, a Jaint Public Hearing between the City
Cauncil and the Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, so as
to consider whether to extend the Moratorium Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, at the joint public hearing members of the public and natural gas industry
spoke in support of the proposed 91-day extension ta the Maratorium Ordinance, so as ta allow
further review of, and to make passible suggestians to, the draft set of regulations covering gas
well drilling and production activities that were released to the public on December 12, 2014;
and
WHEREAS, upon canclusion of said 3oint Public Hearing, the Planning & Zaning
Commission recommended that the Moratorium Ordinance be extended until March 24, 2015;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council concurs with the Planning and Zoning Commission's
re'commendation to extend the Maratorium Ordinance, however the City Council finds it is in the
best interest of the City and the public to extend the moratorium far an additional ninety-one (91 }
days instead af the Planning and Zoning Commission's proposed end date of March 24, 2015, so
as to allow for public review of the draft regulatians; NOW, THE FORE,
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SECTION 2. The moratorium established by Ordinance No. 2014-137, as amended by
Ordinance Nos. 2014-192 and 2014 276, is hereby further extended until midnight of April 21,
2015, under the terms as herein amended, unless earlier terminated by ordinance of the City
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Council implementing amendments to the City's ordinances governing gas well drilling and
production activities and the procedures related thereto.
SECTION_ 3.
the City of Denton,
direct conflict with
Ordinance, during i
provisions thereof.
This Ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of the ordinances of
Texas, as amended, except where the provisions of this Ordinance are in
the provisions of such ordinances, in which event the terms of this
ts effectiveness, shall prevail over any other conflicting ordinances or
SECTION 4, It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the
sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this Ordinance are severable, and if any
phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this Ordinance shall be declared void,
ineffective or unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent
jurisdiction, such voidness, ineffectiveness or unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the
remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs or sections of this Ordinance, since the same
would have been enacted by the City Council without the incorporation herein of any such void,
ineffective or unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.
SECTION 5, This Ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and shall remain in effect
until midnight Apri121, 2015, unless earlier terminated by ordinance of City Council.
PASSED AND APPROVED this �� day of .� ���,����,��'�� �_ , 2015.
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OR
ATTEST:
JENNIFER WALTERS, CITY SECRETARY
:
��������,�1�1:� AS �'"�::� LEGAL FORM:
ANITA BURGESS, CITY ATTORNEY
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