This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Merchantville."
To promote the appropriate use or development of land in the borough in a manner which will promote the public health, safety, morals and general welfare; to secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other natural and man-made disasters; to provide adequate light, air and open space; to promote the establishment of appropriate population densities and concentrations that will contribute to the well-being of persons, neighborhoods and the community and preservation of the environment; to provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for a variety of residential, recreational and commercial uses and open space; to encourage the location and design of transportation routes which will promote the free flow of traffic while discouraging traffic routes which will result in congestion or blight; to promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques and good civic design and arrangements, and to that end to regulate the height, design, appearance, number of stories and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of the area of the lot that may be occupied, the size of yards and other open space, the density of population and the location and use of buildings, structures and land for commerce, trade, residence or other purposes and the height, size and location of these uses within the limits of the borough, these regulations are hereby established and shall hereafter apply.