This chapter is enacted in accordance with the
community development objectives as set forth in the Bern Township
Comprehensive Plan, adopted 1987. Those objectives are incorporated
herein by reference. In addition, it is the intent of this chapter:
A. To promote, protect and facilitate any or all of the
following: the public health, safety, morals and the general welfare;
coordinated and practical community development and proper density
of population; emergency management preparedness and operations, airports
and national defense facilities, the provisions of adequate light
and air, access to incident solar energy, police protection, vehicle
parking and loading space, 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; as well as preservation
of the natural, scenic and historic values in the environment and
preservation of forests, wetlands, aquifers and flood plains.
B. To prevent one or more of the following: overcrowding
of land, blight, danger and congestion in travel and transportation,
loss of health, life or property from fire, flood, panic or other
dangers.
C. To preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering
topography, soil type and classification and present use.
D. To provide for the use of land within Bern Township
for residential housing of various dwelling types encompassing all
basic forms of housing, including single-family and two-family dwellings
and a reasonable range of multifamily dwellings in various arrangements,
mobile homes and mobile home parks, provided, however, that this chapter
shall not be deemed invalid for the failure to provide for any other
specific dwelling type.
E. 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.
In interpreting and applying the provisions
of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements
adopted for the promotion of the public health and safety and the
general welfare of the residents and occupants of the Township. Where
the provisions of this chapter impose greater restrictions than those
of any other Township statute, ordinance or regulation, the the provisions
of this chapter shall be complied with. Where the provisions of any
other Township statute, ordinance or regulation impose greater restrictions
than this chapter, the provisions of such other Township statute,
ordinance or regulation shall be complied with unless otherwise stated
in this chapter.
Except as hereinafter provided, no building,
structure, land or parts thereof in Bern Township shall be used or
reconstructed or structurally altered unless in conformity with the
provisions of this chapter.