Source: https://ecode360.com/11701934
Timestamp: 2020-08-11 19:42:27
Document Index: 524691383

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 325', '§ 325', '§ 325', '§ 325', '§ 325', '§ 325']

Township of West Whiteland, PA General Provisions
Ch 325 Art I General Provisions
§ 325-1 Title.
§ 325-2 Purpose.
§ 325-3 Community development objectives.
§ 325-4 Scope of regulations.
§ 325-5 Conflict with other provisions.
§ 325-6 Establishment of districts.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "West Whiteland Township Zoning Ordinance of 1998."
This chapter is enacted to promote, protect and facilitate the public health, safety, morals and general welfare through coordinated and practical community development, with strong emphasis on the following:
Improvement and/or maintenance of aesthetic quality.
Protection of viewshed and other environmental resources.
Protection of ground- and surface water resources and wetlands.
Provision of reasonable population density.
Provision of light, air, open space and recreation.
Provision for police and fire protection.
Provision of vehicle parking and loading space.
Prevention of travel and transportation congestion.
Protection against loss of health, life or property from fire, flood or other dangers.
Provision of adequate water and sewer facilities.
Preservation of historic and archaeological resources.
This chapter is enacted in accordance with an overall program and with consideration for the character of the Township, its various parts, and the suitability of the various parts for particular uses and structures.
This chapter is enacted in accordance with the spirit and intent of the Township Comprehensive Plan, which has been formulated with a view toward the following objectives:
Insure that future uses of land are compatible with the existing character, values and patterns of activity within the Township and adjacent areas and that location, intensity, mix and timing of development clearly reflect the relative suitability of areas within the Township for such development.
To maintain and improve existing districts and neighborhoods so as to ensure their continuing suitability for residential, commercial, industrial, recreational and institutional use and their attractiveness for infill development.
To accommodate current, impending and prospective commercial and residential land uses in a manner that controls potentially detrimental effects on other areas of the Township.
To conserve remaining open space areas of the Township.
To provide appropriate sites for industry, offices, retail sales and services in the community.
To allow for a range of housing types and sizes to respond to changing housing needs, to provide housing for various stages of the life cycle and for various income levels.
Limit unplanned scatteration, or the establishment of new concentrated development nodes and avoid linear/sprawl development.
Protect the existing resources and values of the community against undesirable impacts of change, remedy current threats to their integrity, enhance their usefulness and accessibility to Township residents and landowners.
Natural resources protection.
Soil and subsoil.
Surface water flow and quality.
Groundwater quality and quantity.
Open space/aesthetics.
Access to incident solar energy.
Provision of a safe, reliable and adequate water supply for domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial use.
Physical resources protection.
Historical, archaeological and cultural sites.
Assure the continued viability, wherever possible, of important elements of the Township's existing circulation network, including the rail lines, trails for walking, horseback riding and bicycling and roads valued for their scenic or historic qualities or as critical highway links.
Social resources protection.
Sustain the integrity and stability of existing residential neighborhoods.
Accommodate appropriate institutions to address the social and cultural needs of the Township populace.
Provide community services and facilities to meet the needs of residents, landowners, entrepreneurs, and, as appropriate, the larger region, and to accommodate future development as called for in the Township Comprehensive Plan, consistent with the Township's statutory and fiscal capabilities. Community services and facilities include, but are not limited to, police and fire protection, roads, pedestrian and bicycle circulation, water supply, stormwater management, sewer facilities, open space and recreation.
In the interpretation and application of the provisions of this chapter, the provisions shall be held to be the minimum requirement for the promotion of the purposes of this chapter.
From and after the effective date of this chapter, use, construction and development of all land, every building or portion thereof, will be subject to the regulations contained herein. The use of all land, every building or portion thereof which is to be erected, altered or relocated hereafter in West Whiteland Township shall be in conformance with this chapter. Any lawfully existing buildings, land or uses not in conformity with the regulations herein shall be considered nonconforming but may be continued or changed subject to regulations herein regarding nonconformities (Article XVIII).
It is not intended by this chapter to repeal, abrogate, annul or interfere with any existing ordinance or enactment, or with any rule, regulation or permit adopted or issued thereunder, except insofar as the same may be inconsistent or in conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter; provided, that, buildings or land, upon the height and bulk of buildings, or prescribes larger open spaces than are required by the provisions of such ordinance, enactment, rule, regulation or permit, then the provisions of this chapter shall control.
Classes of districts. For the purpose of this chapter, the Township is hereby divided into districts which shall be designated as follows:
[Amended 6-29-2011 by Ord. No. 389; 12-10-2014 by Ord. No. 419; 9-9-2015 by Ord. No. 426]
Town Center Mixed Use District
Office/Laboratory District
Office/Residential District
Office/Commercial District
Unified Development Area
Floodplain Conservation
Steep Slope Conservation
Carbonate Area
Airport Overlay District
Rail Transit Overlay
Historical sites. In addition to the above-designated districts, this chapter also recognizes historic sites inventoried by the West Whiteland Township Historical Commission and adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
Zoning Map. The location and boundaries of said districts shall be shown upon the Zoning Map, which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is attached to and is declared to be a part of this chapter.[1]
Editor's Note: A copy of the Zoning Map is included as an attachment to this chapter. The Official Zoning Map is on file at the Township offices.
District boundary lines. The district boundary lines shall be as shown on the Zoning Map. The boundaries, unless otherwise indicated, are intended to coincide with lot lines, center lines of streets and alleys, rights-of-way, floodplains and of beds of streams and watercourses, the corporate boundary to the Township or such lines extended or lines parallel thereto, existing at time of passage of this chapter. In the event of dispute about the location of a district boundary line, the Zoning Officer shall investigate and render a decision to be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors and appeals incident to such a decision shall be heard by the Zoning Hearing Board.
[Amended 3-10-2004 by Ord. No. 310]