This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Official Zoning Ordinance of the Township of Canton."

This chapter should take effect immediately following adoption of this chapter.

This chapter is enacted and ordained under the grant of powers by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.

These zoning regulations are enacted for the purpose of promoting and facilitating the public health, safety and the general welfare; coordinated and practical community development and proper density of population, emergency management preparedness and operations; the provision of adequate light and air, access to incident solar energy; police protection; vehicle parking and loading space; reliable sewage facilities, stormwater facilities, recreational facilities and public use; the provision of a safe, reliable and adequate water supply for domestic, commercial, agricultural, industrial and fire-fighting use; the preservation of natural, scenic and historic values in the environment; the preservation of forests, wetlands, aquifers, and floodplains. Furthermore, this chapter has been developed to prevent the overcrowding of land, blight, danger and congestion in traveling and transportation loss of health, life or property from fire, flood, panic and other dangers. This chapter further strives to accommodate the preservation of prime agricultural and sensitive environmental areas; to provide for the use of land for residential housing of all basic forms; to accommodate reasonable overall community growth; and to provide for opportunities for development of a variety of nonresidential uses. This chapter has been developed in accordance with the Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan as adopted by the Township Board of Supervisors.

In interpreting and applying this chapter, its provisions shall be held to the minimum requirements for promotion of health, safety, morals and general welfare of the Township. This chapter is not intended to interfere with abrogate, annul, supersede or cancel, any easements, covenants, restrictions or reservations contained in deeds or other agreements. 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 with other pertinent regulations of this and other related ordinances, but if this chapter imposes more stringent restrictions upon the use of buildings and land than are elsewhere established, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail. In using the language of this chapter to determine the extent of the restriction upon the use of the property, the language shall be interpreted, where doubt exists as to the intended meaning of the language adopted by the Township Board of Supervisors, in favor of the property owner and against any implied extension of the restriction.

The provisions of this chapter are severable, and if any section, sentence, clause, part, or provision hereof shall be held to be illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional, by a court exercising proper jurisdiction, such decision of the court shall not affect or impair the remaining sections, sentences, clauses, parts or provisions of this chapter. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Board of Supervisors that this chapter would have been enacted if such illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional section, sentence, clause, part, or provision had not been included herein.