This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Adamstown
Borough Zoning Ordinance."
This chapter is enacted for the following purposes:
A.
To promote, protect and facilitate the public health, safety, morals,
general welfare, coordinated and practical community development,
proper density of population, civil defense, disaster evacuation,
airports and national defense facilities, the provisions of adequate
light and air, police protection, vehicle parking and loading space,
transportation, water, sewerage, schools, public grounds, and other
public requirements.
B.
To preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering topography,
soil type and classification, and present use, and to preserve environmentally
sensitive lands.
C.
To prevent overcrowding of land, blight, danger and congestion in
travel and transportation. This chapter is made in accordance with
an overall program, the community development objectives as set forth
in the Strategic Comprehensive Plan for the Cocalico Region, and with
consideration for the character of the Borough, its various parts,
and the suitability of the various parts for particular uses and structures,
and with the view to conserving the value thereof and encouraging
the most appropriate use of land throughout the Borough.
This chapter is enacted in accordance with the Strategic Comprehensive Plan for the Cocalico Region and has been formulated to implement the purpose set forth in § 320-2 above.
A.
In interpreting and applying this chapter, its provisions shall be
held to be minimum requirements for the promotion of health, safety
and general welfare of the Borough. Any use permitted subject to the
regulations prescribed by the provisions of this chapter shall conform
with all regulations for the zoning district in which it is located
and to all other pertinent regulations of the chapter. This chapter
is not intended to interfere with, abrogate, annul, supersede, cancel
any easements, covenants, restrictions or reservations contained in
deeds or other agreements, but if the chapter imposes more stringent
restrictions upon the use of buildings, structures and land than are
contained in the deeds or agreements, the provisions of this chapter
shall control.
B.
Where, due to inherent ambiguity, vagueness or lack of clarity in
the language of this chapter, a reasonable doubt exists as to the
meaning of any restriction upon the use of land, said doubt shall
be resolved in favor of the property owner and against any implied
extension of a restriction.
From and after the effective date of this chapter, no structure
or land shall hereafter be changed in use or occupied, and no building
or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed,
reconstructed, moved or structurally altered except in conformity
with all of the regulations herein specified for the district in which
it is located. No part of a yard, other open space, or landscaping,
or off-street parking or loading space required in connection with
any building or structure for the purpose of complying with this chapter
shall be included as part of a yard, open space, landscaping, or off-street
parking or loading space similarly required for any other building
or structure. Except as is otherwise specifically provided herein,
no yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this chapter shall
be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set
forth herein. Yards or lots created after the effective date of this
chapter shall meet at least the minimum requirements established by
this chapter.
