This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Schuylkill
Township Zoning Ordinance of 1955," as amended.
[Amended 9-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-05]
This chapter has been modified in accordance with the Comprehensive
Plan of Schuylkill Township of June 15, 2005, the Schuylkill Township
Open Space, Recreation and Environmental Resources Plan of December
1992, the Township's policies regarding sewer and water facilities
as expressed in the Schuylkill Township Sewage Facilities Plan (Act
537 Plan), the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, and in consideration
of the character of Schuylkill Township, its various parts and the
suitability of its various parts for particular uses and structures,
and is designed and enacted:
A.
To promote, protect and facilitate one or more of the following:
(1)
The public health, safety, general welfare;
(2)
Coordinated and practical community development;
(3)
Proper and sustainable density of population appropriate to the carrying
capacity of the land and existing or planned feasible infrastructure;
(4)
Civil defense, disaster evacuation, Emergency management preparedness
and operations, airports and national defense facilities;
(5)
The provisions of adequate light and air, access to incident solar
energy, police protection, vehicle parking and loading spaces;
(6)
Transportation, water, sewerage, schools, recreational facilities,
public grounds, the provision of a safe, reliable and adequate water
supply for domestic, commercial, agricultural or industrial use, and
other public requirements;
(7)
Preservation of the natural, scenic and historic values in the environment
and preservation of forests, wetlands, aquifers, and floodplains.
C.
To preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering topography,
size, type, and classification and present use.
[Amended 9-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-05]
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the health, safety and the general welfare of the Township. The Comprehensive Plan in accordance with which this chapter is enacted, and which is reflected in the provisions of this chapter, has been formulated to implement the purposes set forth in § 370-2, in the respects therein stated and, more in particular, with a view toward the following objectives:
A.
Guiding and encouraging the future development of the Township in
accordance with comprehensive planning of land use and population
density that represents the most beneficial and convenient relationships
among the residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas
within the Township, having regard to their suitability for the various
uses appropriate to each of them and their suitability for such uses,
as indicated by topography and soil condition and other natural features,
existing man-made condition and trends in population in the direction
and manner of the use of land, in building development, and in economic
activity, considering such conditions and trends both within the Township
and with respect to the relationship of the Township to surrounding
areas as expressed in the Character Zones T-1 (most rural), T-2 (more
suburban), T-3 (most suburban), and T-4 (more urban), as shown in
the Schuylkill Township Comprehensive Plan Addendum 2005, adopted
June 15, 2005;
B.
Protecting the character and the social and economic stability of
each such area and encouraging orderly and beneficial growth consistent
with comprehensive planning, feasible infrastructure, and agricultural
preservation;
C.
Protecting and conserving the values of the land and building throughout
the Township appropriate to the various zoning districts established
herein;
D.
Bringing about through proper timing the gradual conformity of land
use with the aforesaid Comprehensive Plan and minimizing conflicts
among those uses of land and buildings;
E.
Bringing about the most beneficial relationship between land use
and circulation of traffic throughout the Township, avoiding congestion
in the streets, and providing for safe and convenient access appropriate
to the various land uses;
F.
Providing a reliable guide for public policy and action in the development of public facilities and services, and for private enterprises and activities relating to land use, insofar as such objectives are consistent with the purposes set forth in § 370-2 and with the aforesaid minimum requirements. Therefore, the provisions of this chapter shall be interpreted, administered and applied in such manner as will facilitate attainment of said objectives.
This chapter is not intended 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, however, that where this chapter imposes greater
restrictions upon the use of 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 prevail.
While not in conflict with the long-range objectives of the
Township Comprehensive Plan, this chapter is enacted for the accomplishment
of specific goals and objectives which appear to be feasible within
the immediate or foreseeable future, still within the framework of
the Plan's long-range objectives which are summarized as follows:
A.
To promote, protect and facilitate the public health, safety, and
the general welfare;
B.
To retain the Township's quiet, residential character and likewise
preserve and protect its historic past;
C.
To utilize the land in such manner as will broaden the economic base
toward curbing the trend of ever higher tax burdens on property owners;
D.
To improve community facilities and services, at reasonable costs,
as needed by the Township residents and plan development consistent
with the Comprehensive Plan;
[Amended 9-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-05]
E.
To establish and maintain working relationships with the adjoining
municipalities for the benefit of all parties concerned;
F.
To establish and maintain a safe, efficient street pattern for good
circulation without encouraging through traffic;
G.
To encourage economic growth by expansion and addition of industry;
H.
To provide for small, well-situated neighborhood shopping facilities
as the need arises;
I.
To maintain strict enforcement of building, zoning, subdivision and
land development, sanitation and other such regulations as adopted;
J.
To encourage citizen participation and support for community programs;
[Amended 9-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-05]
K.
To provide the opportunity for a variety of housing types and appropriate
housing densities, as set forth in the Comprehensive Plan Addendum
2005, adopted June 15, 2005, to meet the housing requirement of the
Township;
[Amended 9-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-05]
L.
To provide reasonable floodplain and flood hazard regulations to
assure safety and protection for Township residents and their property;
M.
To provide adequate protection against development of relatively
steep slopes or grades and areas of hazardous geological or topographic
features;
N.
To preserve and protect the Township's historic sites and structures;
O.
To preserve prime agriculture land, especially in the T-1 Character
Zone, as set forth in the Schuylkill Township Comprehensive Plan Addendum
2005.
[Added 9-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-05]
[Amended 9-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-05]
This chapter, amendment, and revision (reenactment) shall become
effective on March 24, 1997, and on subsequent dates as this chapter
is amended from time to time.
