Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Port Arthur, Texas
Port Arthur, Texas has laws which govern how individual parcels of land can be used, and how they cannot. These rules aren't always simple, and this article should serve as an introduction to some of the most common issues that homeowners might face, though it is not meant to turn a layperson into an expert.
Municipal governments which practice zoning typically follow a similar scheme: the town or city is divided up into "zones," or areas in which particular types of use are permitted. For example, the downtown area might be zoned for commercial and office use, and perhaps for large, multi-unit apartment buildings. The surrounding areas will typically be zoned for residential and small-scale commercial use, and the outskirts zoned for manufacturing and other heavy industry.
The purpose of zoning is to preserve property values, and make towns and cities more livable. For example, without zoning laws, a company might be able to buy a vacant lot next to your house and build a noisy, smelly, dirty factory on it.
Zoning laws don't exist just to protect residential use - it also protects people who engage in other types of use of land, by making sure that they are able to do their business, without bothering neighboring landowners, and thereby avoiding legal disputes.
What if My Property Violates Port Arthur, Texas's Zoning Laws?
Zoning laws are often quite extensive and meticulous, and it's very possible that your property in Port Arthur, Texas contains some minor zoning violation that you don't know about. If this happens to you, you have significant legal protections.
First, and perhaps most obviously, you can correct the violation. If the violation is relatively minor, and correcting it would not cost you much or be a significant burden, this might be the best way to go.
But what happens if you've invested a large amount of effort and money into improving your land, and you later discover that you've committed some relatively minor zoning violation? You are generally entitled to seek what is known as a "variance" in these cases. A variance is simply when your local government makes a small exception to the zoning rules to accommodate a small violation that would be difficult to fix. A variance will usually be granted if the violation doesn't harm anyone, and enforcing Port Arthur, Texas's zoning laws to the letter would not, in this case, advance their purposes.
You also have significant protections if a zoning law changes, and you find that the land you've been living on for years is suddenly in violation of the new law. In general, zoning laws cannot apply to structures and uses which were built or commenced before the law was changed. Under the U.S. Constitution, it's not permissible for state or local governments to pass laws which have retroactive effect. You should know, however, that any future changes you make to your property will have to comply with the new zoning law.
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How Can a Port Arthur, Texas Attorney Help?
If you are in the early stages of a major construction or remodeling project on your property, especially if it is in a residential area (where zoning laws tend to be most restrictive), you are likely to encounter one zoning law issue or another. Of course, having read this article, you should now be aware that you have rights when it comes to contesting a zoning law as applied to you. While such contests do not always come out on the side of the landowner, the assistance of a good Port Arthur, Texas real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.
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Life in Port Arthur
Port Arthur is experiencing an economic revitalization with nearly $2 billion in projects involving energy infrastructure. Golden Pass and Sabine Pass LNG terminals are the largest and would bring in millions of dollars to Port Arthur each year. Port Arthur is one of Texas' leading seaports and was in the news recently when an oil tanker and barge collided. Port Arthur is connected to the rest of Texas intersecting with a number of US and state highways making it ideal for transportation and distribution. Being the center of so much business, Port Arthur has some of the best outlet and shopping in the area. The business boom has also attracted a number of lawyers to the area to help sort out any legal problem that may arise. Port Arthur lawyers know business law well but many also focus their practices in other areas like family, criminal, and immigration law.Port Arthur offers a number of worthwhile educational outlets like public libraries and schools. The Bob Hope Charter School and Lamar State College are both located in Port Arthur. Notables of Port Arthur include Janis Joplin, Jimmy Johnson, G.W. Bailey, and rap group UGK. Port Arthur has seen major damage from Gulf of Mexico hurricanes and tropical cyclones like Hurricane Rita, Humberto, Ike, and Tropical Storm Eduard. Luckily, Port Arthur residents have prepared successfully beforehand or recovered from the forceful damaging storms.
