This chapter shall be known and be cited as the "Scott Township
Zoning Ordinance."
A.
Section 601 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act
247 of 1968, as amended)[1] provides that the Supervisors of Scott Township may implement
comprehensive plans or accomplish any of the purposes of the Planning
Code by enacting a zoning ordinance.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10601.
B.
The Supervisors of Scott Township, under the authority cited above,
do hereby ordain that this Zoning Chapter was enacted in order to
promote and protect the health, safety, morals and general welfare
of the residents of the Township.
The zoning regulations and districts herein set forth were developed
in accordance with an overall program for the Township, with consideration
being given to the character of the area, the municipality's
various parts and the suitability of the various parts for particular
uses and structures. As such, the regulations were designed:
A.
To promote, protect and facilitate the public health, safety, morals
and the general welfare; coordinated and practical community development
and proper density of population; emergency management preparedness
and operations, airports and national defense facilities; the provision
of adequate light and air; access to incident solar energy, police
protection, vehicle parking and loading space, transportation, water,
sewerage, schools, recreational facilities and public grounds; the
provision of a safe, reliable and adequate water supply for domestic,
commercial, agricultural or industrial use and other public requirements;
as well as preservation of the natural, scenic and historic values
in the environment and preservation of forests, wetlands, aquifers
and floodplains.
B.
To prevent the overcrowding of land, blight, danger and congestion
in travel and transportation, loss of health, life or property from
fire, flood, panic or other dangers.
C.
To preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering topography,
soil type and classification and present use.
D.
To provide for the use of land within the municipality for residential
housing of various dwelling types encompassing all basic forms of
housing.
E.
To accommodate reasonable overall community growth and provide opportunities
for development of a variety of residential dwelling types and nonresidential
uses.
F.
To facilitate appropriate development of the Township, protect the
tax base and encourage economy in public expenditures.
This chapter provides a legal basis and framework for future
development in Scott Township. Its provisions were guided by the goals
and objectives and policy recommendations set forth in the Township's
Comprehensive Plan of 1988, as restated as general development goals
and objectives in February 1992. The following list of goal statements
represent the Township Board of Supervisors' legislative finding
with respect to land use; density of population; the need for housing,
commerce and industry; the location and function of streets and other
community facilities and utilities; the need for preserving agricultural
land and protecting natural resources; and other factors which the
Board believes relevant in guiding the future development of the municipality.
A.
Development densities and locations should be controlled in order
to prevent overcrowding of certain areas of the Township and to help
maintain the character of the community's different segments.
B.
Land use policies and regulations should encourage development to
locate in the best-suited areas of the Township. Development should
be required to respect the physical capabilities and limitations of
the area and its environment, and higher-density developments should
be guided to areas served by the community sewer and water systems.
C.
Township land use policies and regulations should respect current
municipal residents and property owners and avoid creating economic
hardship or inequities for them as new development occurs.
D.
The Township's and region's heritage should be understood,
respected and protected by all Township policies and initiatives.
E.
Environmental hazard areas (including wetlands, floodplains, poor
soils areas, etc.) and fragile resource areas (such as aquifer recharge
areas) should be utilized only in ways which will not create nor increase
problems for the Township, its residents or surrounding municipalities.
F.
Agricultural activities within the Township should be encouraged
to continue where possible.
G.
Suitable, safe residential environments should be maintained, and
a variety of housing types and styles should be available for Township
residents of all ages, family sizes and income levels.
H.
Adequate, accessible public facilities, services and utilities should
be provided for all Township residents at a reasonable cost.
I.
An adequate, safe transportation network should be provided and maintained
throughout the Township. New developments should be located and designed
to maintain the integrity of the existing street system and minimize
potential safety hazards for all users. Pedestrian and vehicular circulation
routes should be separated to the extent possible, particularly in
the vicinity of schools and other places of public assembly.
J.
Commercial, industrial, institutional and other nonresidential uses
and activities should be maintained, promoted and encouraged to locate
in the Township as a means of providing local employment opportunities.
These uses should, however, be situated only in areas designated for
such uses to avoid creating conflicts between noncompatible land uses.
K.
Existing municipal recreation and public areas and community facilities
should be adequately maintained to assure their continued usefulness,
and sufficient open space should be reserved by developers in new
subdivisions to provide space for neighborhood recreation.
L.
Local and regional planning efforts and public sector expenditures
should be coordinated to help maximize the effectiveness of such investments,
to provide for orderly growth and development and to foster pleasant,
safe living environments throughout the area.
This chapter is not intended to create nor assume liability
on the part of Scott Township or any officer or employee thereof for
any fire, flood or other damage that may result from reliance on this
chapter or from any administrative decisions lawfully made thereunder.
These regulations shall not guarantee a specific level of protection
for any construction. The applicant shall in all cases rely on accepted
engineering methods or building practices when designing or constructing
structures approved pursuant to these regulations.
