This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Horsham Township Zoning Ordinance of 1995." This chapter shall
become effective as of the date of publication of the legal notice
of the enactment of the chapter. Said publication shall occur within
30 days of enactment of the chapter.
This chapter is enacted for the purpose of promoting
the health, safety, morals, and the general welfare of the Township.
It is to reflect the intent of the Township's development objectives
as stated in the Township's Comprehensive Plan. It is designed to
lessen congestion in the roads and highways, to secure safety from
fire, panic and other danger, to provide adequate light and air, to
prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue congestion of population,
to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage,
schools, parks and other public requirements, to conserve the value
of buildings, and to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout
the Township. This chapter is also intended to complement the provisions
and purposes of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,[1] as amended.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101
et seq.
A.
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, morals, 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 purpose set forth in § 230-2 hereinabove, in the respects therein stated and more particularly with a view toward, inter alia, the following objectives:
(1)
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 potentiality
for such uses, as indicated by topography and soil conditions, existing
man-made conditions, and the 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 relation of the Township to surrounding areas.
(2)
Protecting the character and the social and economic
stability of each of such areas and encouraging their orderly and
beneficial growth.
(3)
Protecting and conserving the value of land and buildings
throughout the Township depending on necessity circumstances, appropriate
to the various zoning districts established herein.
(4)
Bringing about through proper timing the gradual conformity
of land use to the Comprehensive Plan aforesaid and minimizing conflicts
among the use of land and buildings.
(5)
Aiding in bringing about the most beneficial relation
between land use and the circulation of traffic throughout the Township,
having particular regard to traffic to and from the expressways and
to avoidance of congestion in the streets and the provision of safe
and convenient access appropriate to the various land uses.
(6)
Aiding 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 private enterprise in building
development, investment, and other economic activity relating to land
use.
It is not intended by this chapter 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 that where this chapter
imposes greater restrictions upon the use of buildings or land, or
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
control.
