To promote, protect and facilitate one or more of the following: the public health, safety, morals, general welfare, proper density of population, provision of adequate light and air, and other public requirements as well.

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.

To advance the purposes and goals of the Borough as set forth in the Clifton Heights Borough Comprehensive Plan, as adopted.

This chapter seeks to preserve and protect the environment by adopting standards for that purpose.

Minimum and uniform regulations. The regulations set forth in this chapter within each district shall be minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each class or kind of structure or land. Where the provisions of any statute, other ordinance or regulation shall contain or impose restrictions which conflict with this chapter, the more restrictive shall govern.

Proposed uses and structures. In all zoning districts, after the effective date of this chapter, land shall be developed and used only in accordance with the regulations specified herein, except where a variance has been granted by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with Articles XVIII and XIX of this chapter.

Existing uses and structures. In all districts, after the effective date of this chapter, any existing building or other structure or any tract of land which is not in conformity with the regulations of the district in which it is located shall be deemed to be nonconforming and shall be subject to the regulations of Article XVII of this chapter.

Updating ordinance. This chapter shall be reviewed annually with the intent to amend it, if necessary. The review shall take into account changes in circumstances within the Borough, county and/or region which directly affect land uses in Clifton Heights Borough; changes in legislation governing or regulating land use, especially the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC)[1]; changes in environmental regulations especially concerning wetlands, steep slopes, floodplains, etc.; and changes in engineering and building technology. The annual review shall take place within the anniversary month of the adoption of this chapter.

The boundaries between districts are either the center lines of streets or railroad rights-of-way or such lines extended or lines parallel or perpendicular thereto. Where figures are shown on the Zoning Map between a street and a district boundary line, they indicate that the district boundary line runs parallel to the street center line at a distance therefrom equivalent to the number of feet so indicated.

In the interpretation and application of the provisions of this chapter, said provisions shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion and protection of the public health, welfare and safety. In the case that this chapter is in conflict with any other statute, ordinance or regulation, the more restrictive statute, ordinance or regulation shall be controlling.