A.
Community development objectives. This chapter, including
the provisions, requirements and districts as hereinafter set forth,
is based upon and intended to give effect to the policies, goals and
objectives set forth in the Washington Township Comprehensive Plan
and is intended to promote the public health, safety and general welfare
by achieving the following purposes and objectives for the development
of the Township:
(1)
To preserve agriculture as a viable industry in Washington
Township by guiding nonfarm development away from prime agricultural
soils and protecting the land-related assets of farm owners.
(2)
To regulate development in rural nonfarm areas (the
"watershed area") to preserve wooded areas, to minimize erosion and
stormwater runoff, to prevent siltation and excessive sedimentation
of streams and generally to enhance or preserve the existing quality
of groundwater and surface waters in the Township.
(3)
To enhance the vehicular movement through and within
the Township.
(4)
To assure that community facilities and services keep
pace with growth.
(5)
To maintain the current commitment to good community
planning, citizen involvement and plan implementation.
B.
Purposes legislated by the Municipalities Planning
Code.[1] The provisions of this chapter are designed to achieve
the following purposes:
(1)
To promote, protect and facilitate the public health,
safety, morals and the general welfare; coordinated and practical
community development and proper density of population; access to
incident solar energy and adequate light and air; availability of
water supply, sewage disposal capacity and vehicle parking and loading
space; and an adequate supply of recreational facilities for public
use.
(2)
To preserve the natural, scenic and historic values
in the environment, preserving forests, wetlands, aquifers and floodplains.
(3)
To prevent overcrowding of land; blight; danger and
congestion in travel and transportation; and the loss of health, life
or property from fire, flood, panic or other dangers.
(4)
To preserve prime agricultural and farm land, considering
topography, soil type, soil classification and present use.
(5)
To provide for the residential use of land within
the Township within housing units of various dwelling types, encompassing
all basic forms of housing.
(6)
To accommodate reasonable overall community growth,
including population and employment growth and opportunities for development
of a variety of residential dwelling types and nonresidential uses.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101
et seq.
C.
General objectives. The provisions of this chapter
shall be interpreted, administered and applied in such manner as will
facilitate the attainment of the following objectives and all others
permitted by law:
(1)
To protect the character and socioeconomic stability
of each area of the Township, including agricultural, commercial,
industrial and residential areas, and to encourage the orderly and
beneficial development of each such area.
(2)
To protect and to conserve the value of land and buildings
throughout the Township, depending upon necessity of circumstances,
appropriate to the various zoning districts established herein.
(3)
To bring about through proper timing the gradual conformity
of land use to the Comprehensive Plan and to minimize conflicts among
the uses of land and buildings.
(4)
To aid in bringing about the most beneficial relation
between land use and the circulation of traffic throughout the Township
to avoid the congestion of streets and highways and to provide safe
and convenient access appropriate to the various land uses.
(5)
To aid in providing a guide for public policy and action in the efficient provision of public facilities and services, in the provision of safe and proper sanitary sewage disposal and for private enterprise in building development, investment and other economic activity relating to land use, insofar as such objectives are consistent with the purposes noted in Subsections A and B.
In their interpretation and application, the
provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements
adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety and general
welfare of the residents of the Township.
A.
It is not the intent of this chapter to interfere
with, abrogate or annul any rules or regulations previously issued
by the Township, provided that the same are not in conflict with any
provision of this chapter, nor is it the intent of this chapter to
interfere with, abrogate or annul any easement, covenant, building
restriction or any other agreement between or among private parties.
B.
Where this chapter imposes provisions differing from
any other applicable ordinance, regulation, private agreement or portion
thereof, the more restrictive provision shall apply.
C.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to render
inoperative any enforceable restrictions established by covenants
running with the land, provided that such restrictions are not prohibited
by or contrary to the regulations herein established.
This chapter shall not create liability on the
part of Washington Township or on any officer or employee thereof
for any damages that result from reliance on this chapter or any administrative
decision lawfully made pursuant to the provisions hereof.
