Butler City Zoning Code
ARTICLE I
General Provisions
§ 260-1 Title.
This chapter and map shall be known as and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance of the City of Butler, Pennsylvania," in accordance with and exercising the authority of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as amended,[1] and among others to promote, prohibit, regulate, restrict and determine:
A.
Uses of land, watercourses and other bodies of water.
B.
Size, height, bulk, location, erection, construction, repair, maintenance, alteration, razing, removal and use of structures.
C.
Area and dimension of land and bodies of water to be occupied by uses and structures, as well as areas, courts, yards and other open spaces and distance to be left unoccupied by uses and structures.
D.
Density of population and intensity of use.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
§ 260-2 Purpose.
This chapter shall have as its general purposes:
A.
To promote, protect and facilitate the public health, safety, morals and general welfare, to preserve individual property values and the integrity of the neighborhoods, to coordinate and make practical community development, to facilitate proper density of population, civil defense facilities and the provision of light and air, police protection, vehicle parking and loading space, transportation facilities, water supply, sewage disposal, schools, public grounds and other public requirements.
B.
To prevent overcrowding of land, blight, danger and congestion in travel and transportation and loss of health, life or property from fire, flood, panic or other disasters.
§ 260-3 Community development objectives.
[Amended 11-21-2013 by Ord. No. 1679]
More particularly, this chapter shall seek to achieve the following community development objectives, more fully described in the Butler Area Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan (BAMM Plan) adopted August 26, 2010. The eventual objective of the City in regard to its future development is to improve its living, working and shopping environment by:
A.
Preserving open space, woodlands, hillsides, wetlands, watersheds, scenic vistas, and other critical environmental areas and leaving floodplains undeveloped.
B.
Providing a range of housing opportunities and alternatives, in terms of type and cost, in safe, desirable, walkable, blight-free neighborhoods, and rehabilitating and/or razing deteriorated housing and renewing neighborhoods to conserve and stabilize property values throughout the municipality.
C.
Providing suitable sites within the City for a broad variety of commercial activities, improving access into commercial areas and parking facilities within such areas, and finding effective uses for existing commercial structures.
D.
Fostering distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place and coordinated, practical development that promotes the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the municipality.
E.
As economically as possible, providing a variety of transportation choices and the safe and convenient movement of traffic through the municipality, separating local and through traffic when possible, preventing congestion, providing safe walkways for pedestrians, promoting access management principles along key corridors, and assuring minimal disruption of development patterns and community integrity.
F.
Strengthening and directing development towards communities or areas with existing utilities, taking advantage of compact development and building design; promoting use of renewable resources; redeveloping abandoned, blighted, or underutilized sites; discouraging sprawl; and buffering incompatible land uses.
G.
Mixing land uses to balance economic growth and employment opportunities with residential uses, open space, parks and recreation facilities, transportation hubs, commercial and entertainment facilities, and schools, to enhance the sense of community and minimize development costs.
H.
Promoting Downtown Butler as the commercial, government, social, and entertainment center of the BAMM Plan area, while concentrating other commercial and industrial uses in appropriate locations as identified in the BAMM Plan.
I.
Assuring that there are an adequate number of developable sites for light industrial, commercial, office, neighborhood commercial, and other employment or service centers, redeveloping existing sites as a top priority, and encouraging aesthetically pleasing designs.
J.
Encouraging the most economically efficient provision of water, wastewater, storm drainage, electric, gas, and telecommunications, as well as schools, parks, libraries, museums, and other public amenities.
K.
Providing for development decisions that are predictable, fair and cost-effective.
L.
Encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions.
§ 260-4 Official Zoning Map.
A.
The City is hereby divided into zones or districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map,[1] which together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Official Zoning Map is included as an attachment to this chapter.
B.
No changes of any nature shall be made in the Official Zoning Map or matters shown thereon except in conformity with the procedures set forth in this chapter. Any unauthorized change of whatever kind by any person shall be considered a violation of this chapter and punishable as provided under § 260-142.
C.
The Official Zoning Map which shall be located in the City Building, shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land and water areas, buildings and other structures in the city.
§ 260-5 Conflicts with other provisions.
It is not intended by this chapter to repeal, abrogate, annul or interfere with any existing ordinances 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.