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 floodplains.

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.

Preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering topography, soil type and classification, and present use.

Provide for the use of land within the municipality 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 no zoning ordinance shall be deemed invalid for the failure to provide for any other specific dwelling type.

Accommodate reasonable overall community growth, including population and employment growth, and opportunities for development of a variety of residential dwelling types and nonresidential uses.

When the language of this chapter is deemed to impose a restriction upon the use of property, the language shall be interpreted, where doubt exists as to the intended meaning of the language written and enacted by the Board of Supervisors, in favor of the property owner and against any implied extension of the restriction.

When any regulation made under authority of this chapter requires a greater width size of yards, courts, or other open space, requires a lower height of buildings, or smaller number of stories or require a greater percentage of a lot to be left unoccupied, or imposes other higher standards than are required in or under any other statute, the more-restrictive regulation shall govern.

Whenever the provisions of any other statute require a greater width or size of yards, courts or open space, or require a greater percentage of lot to be left unoccupied, or impose higher standards that are required by and regulations made under authority of this chapter, the provisions of such statute shall govern.

This chapter does not repeal, abrogate, annul, or in any way impair or interfere with the existing provisions of other laws or ordinances, except those specifically or impliedly repealed by this chapter, or any private restrictions placed upon property by covenant, deed or other private agreement unless repugnant hereto.

Provisions in the Allen Township Subdivision and Land Development Regulations [Chapter 22] providing for varying design standards shall not be considered to be in conflict with the provisions of this chapter.

In all districts, after the effective date of this chapter, any new building or other structure or any tract of land or parts thereof shall be constructed, developed, and used only in accordance with the regulations specified for each district.

In all districts, after the effective date of this chapter, any existing building, structure, or use of any tract of land or parts thereof which is not in conformity with the regulations for the district in which it is located shall be deemed a nonconforming structure or use.

In all districts, any legally established use of a structure, building, lot, or any tract of land which use constitutes nonconforming use under the provisions of this chapter may be continued.

Adoption of Zoning Map. The areas within the Township as assigned to each district and the location of boundaries of the districts established by this chapter are shown on the Zoning Map, as revised, which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is declared to be part of this chapter and shall be kept on file with the Township Secretary. If and whenever changes are made in boundaries or other matter included on the said Zoning Map, such changes in the map shall be made promptly after the amendment has been approved by the Township Board of Supervisors.

District Boundary Lines. The district boundary lines shall be as shown on the Zoning Map. District boundary lines are intended to coincide with lot lines, center lines of streets and roads, the corporate boundary of the Township, or as dimensioned on the map. In case of doubt or disagreement concerning the exact location of the boundary line, the determination of the Board of Supervisors shall prevail.