The official title of this chapter is: "Middlesex
Township Zoning Ordinance."
This chapter is adopted by virtue of the authority
granted to the Township by the commonwealth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities
Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as amended by Act 170 of 1988 (53
P.S. § 10101 et seq., as may be amended from time to time).
A.
In the event of conflicts between the provisions of
this chapter and any other ordinance or regulation, the more restrictive
provisions shall apply.
B.
In their interpretation and application, the provisions
of this chapter shall be considered minimum requirements adopted for
the promotion of the health, safety and general welfare of the public.
C.
In interpreting the language of this chapter to determine
the extent of the restriction upon the use of property, the language
shall be interpreted, where doubt exists as to the intended meaning
of the language written and enacted by the Township Supervisors, in
favor of the property owner and against any implied extension of the
restriction.
These regulations are deemed necessary in order
to:
A.
Promote and protect the public health, safety and
welfare of the residents of the Township and of the public, generally;
B.
Encourage and facilitate orderly community growth
and development;
C.
Conserve and stabilize property values through encouragement
of the most appropriate use of land in relation to adjacent land uses;
D.
Secure safety from fire and prevent adequate open
space for light and air;
E.
Facilitate the economic provision of adequate transportation,
water supply, sewage disposal, schools, parks and other public requirements;
F.
(Reserved)
G.
Prevent blight, the overcrowding or incompatible development
or use of land, danger and congestion in travel and transportation,
and the loss of health, life or property from fire, flood, panic or
other dangers.
H.
Preserve forests, recreation and agricultural lands
from conflict with urban development; and
I.
Promote conservation of the environment and other
natural and historic features.
In addition to the general purposes of this chapter stated in § 175-4, the following specific community development objectives have been considered as a basis upon which the regulations and controls of this chapter are derived:
A.
The present rural atmosphere of the Township should
be maintained and development channeled into a logical sequence rather
than permitted to occur in a haphazard arrangement across the Township.
B.
Areas which are actively being farmed and which are
particularly well-suited to farming because of soil types, size or
location should be protected and preserved.
C.
Higher-density residential growth should be channeled
into areas where public water and public sewer service is anticipated
to be extended in the future or where PA-DER-approved community treatment
and distribution systems are provided in the interim.
D.
Within the capability of existing or anticipated public
facilities, services and streets, a range of housing types and densities
oriented towards the changing needs of those seeking housing in the
Township should be encouraged.
E.
The provision of new streets, services and utilities
within a developing plan should be the responsibility of the developers.
F.
Interconnecting new highways and streets shall be
planned to serve the future development of the Township in a logical
and continuous manner. Planning shall be the responsibility of the
Planning Commission and streets and highways shall meet the standards
of construction set forth by the Township.
G.
Development standards should encourage a variety of
site design opportunities, both on individual lots and in planned
communities of many units, while at the same time maintaining adequate
health and safety standards.
H.
Commercial growth should be related to the needs of
the expanding residential and institutional activities in the Township
and adjoining townships rather than to speculative development.
I.
Commercial expansion should be encouraged to develop
in depth, rather than in a linear pattern along the highway, and adequate
parking areas, loading positions and means of safe access should be
provided at each commercial property. Points of access to commercial
developments on the same highway should be designed to avoid congestion.
J.
Industrial expansion should be encouraged where adjacent
adequate highway and/or air transportation facilities exist and where
the impact of such development will not deteriorate nearby residential
or institutional growth.
K.
Recreational development shall provide for the expanded
needs of the Township, and recreation and playground areas shall be
located to serve the maximum number of residents.
No structure shall be located, erected, constructed,
reconstructed, moved, altered, converted or enlarged; nor shall any
structure or land be used or be designed to be used, except in full
compliance with all the provisions of this chapter and after the lawful
issuance of all permits and certificates required by this chapter.
