Sec. 650.501. - Intent.

The Council recognizes that the comprehensive plan is intended to guide the City's growth and development into the next century, and that uses of land and characteristics of development which were permitted prior to the adoption of the comprehensive plan and the land development regulations may be prohibited or restricted as of the effective date of the plan and the regulations. The Council further recognizes that the implementation of the comprehensive plan and the Land Development Regulations may, in certain instances wherein development has commenced or is under way, result in numerous and severe hardships, both economic and otherwise, not only to owners and developers of property, but to all those associated with the development community, including real estate agents, brokers, mortgagees and lending institutions, planners, architects, engineers, building contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers. It is therefore the intent of the Council in implementing the comprehensive plan and the Land Development Regulations required pursuant thereto to: (i) Allow development to continue in those instances wherein development has commenced or is under way or commitments have been made by the City which bind it to approved development orders, regardless of whether or not the development is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan and the Land Development Regulations; (ii) To recognize validly existing vested rights; and (iii) To ensure that all property owners have a reasonable, beneficial and economic use of their property, and that no property is taken by the implementation, interpretation or enforcement of the comprehensive plan and the Land Development Regulations without just compensation. (Ord. 91-1016-425, § 9)