Douglass Township Berks County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 3
ZONING MAP AND ZONING DISTRICTS
§ 27-301 Establishment of Zoning Districts.
[Ord. 2013-01, 2/11/2013]
For the purpose of this chapter, the Township is hereby divided into classes of zoning districts which shall be designated as follows:
RC Rural Conservation District |
RR Rural Residential District |
RS Rural Suburban Residential District |
VC Village Commercial District |
HC Highway Commercial District |
LI Limited Industrial District |
GI General Industrial District |
SD School District |
§ 27-302 Official Zoning Map.
[Ord. 2013-01, 2/11/2013]
1.
The boundaries of the zoning districts shall be as shown on the Zoning Map of Douglass Township. The Zoning Map and all notations, references, and data illustrated thereon are hereby incorporated by reference into this chapter. The official copy of the Zoning Map shall be labeled and identified by the signature of the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, attested by the Secretary of said Board, and shall bear the seal of the Township under the following words:
"This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Map of the Township of Douglass, Berks County, adopted by the Douglass Township Board of Supervisors on __________ as part of the Douglass Township Zoning Ordinance of 2013." |
2.
If, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., changes are made in district boundaries or other matters portrayed on the Official Zoning Map, such changes shall be entered on the Official Zoning Map after the amendment has been approved by the Board of Supervisors.
3.
The Official Zoning Map shall be located in a place designated by the Board of Supervisors, and shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land and water area in Douglass Township.
4.
In the event that the Official Zoning Map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of changes and additions, the Board of Supervisors may, by ordinance, adopt a new Official Zoning Map. The new Official Zoning Map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior Official Zoning Map, but no such correction shall have the effect of amending the original Official Zoning Map or any subsequent amendment thereof. The new Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Board of Supervisors, attested by the Secretary of said Board, and bear the seal of the Township under the following words:
"This is to certify that this Official Zoning Map of Douglass Township supersedes and replaces the prior Official Zoning Map and is hereby adopted as part of Zoning Ordinance of 2013 of Douglass Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania." |
5.
Unless the prior Official Zoning Map has been lost or has been totally destroyed, the prior map or any significant parts thereof remaining shall be preserved together with all applicable records pertaining to its adoption or amendment.
§ 27-303 Interpretation of District Boundaries.
[Ord. 2013-01, 2/11/2013]
1.
Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of districts as indicated on the Official Zoning Map, the following rules provided within this Part shall be applicable:
A.
Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately coinciding with the center lines of streets, highways, lanes, alleys, railroad tracks, rivers or creeks, such center line shall be construed to be such boundaries.
B.
Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately coinciding with lot lines or municipal boundary lines, such lines shall be construed to be such boundaries.
C.
Where district boundaries are indicated as being approximately parallel to the center or right-of-way lines of streets or highways, lanes, alleys, railroad tracks, rivers, or creeks, such district boundaries shall be construed as being parallel to the center or right-of-way lines and at such distance therefrom as is indicated on the Official Zoning Map. Distances not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map.
D.
Where district boundaries are indicated as being approximately perpendicular to the right-of-way lines of streets or highways, such district boundaries shall be construed as being perpendicular to the right-of-way lines.
E.
Where a district boundary line divides a lot which was in single ownership at the effective date of this chapter, at the election of the property owner, the regulations of either zoning district may be extended a distance of not more than 50 feet beyond the district boundary line onto the remaining portion of the lot.
§ 27-304 Application of District Regulations.
[Ord. 2013-01, 2/11/2013]
1.
The following standards indicated within this Part shall be utilized for the generalized application of the district regulation in association with this chapter:
A.
No building, structure, or land shall be used and no building, structure, or part thereof shall be erected, constructed, assembled, moved, enlarged, reconstructed, removed or structurally altered without the issuance of a zoning and/or building permit by the Zoning Officer. No building, structure, or land shall be occupied without the issuance of a certificate of use and occupancy by the Zoning Officer.
B.
No part of a yard, common open space, other open space, or off-street parking or loading space required in connection with one structure, building, or use of the land shall be included as part of a yard, common open space, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other structure, building, or use of the land, except as permitted or required by this chapter or other Township Ordinance or regulations.
C.
No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this chapter which meets the requirements of this chapter shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth in this chapter. A yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this chapter shall not be further reduced below the minimum requirements of this chapter.
D.
Where district regulations specify a minimum lot width at the right-of-way line, such width shall be provided contiguous along the right-of-way line of one street. It is prohibited, when calculating the width of a lot, to add widths along the right-of-way lines of two or more streets. In the case of a corner lot, the minimum lot width must be provided along the right-of-way line of both streets whereupon the said lot abuts.
E.
Where district regulations specify a minimum lot width at the building setback line, such minimum lot width shall be provided contiguous along the building setback line established from one street. It is prohibited, when calculating the width of a lot, to add widths along the building setback lines established from two or more streets. In the case of a corner lot, the minimum lot width must be provided along the building setback line established from both streets whereupon the said lot abuts.
F.
In the case of a lot of irregular shape in which a portion of the lot abuts a street and a portion not abutting a street abuts the rear yards of lots which have frontage on the same street as does the irregularly shaped lot, on the irregularly shaped lot a building setback line shall be established from the abutting rear yards. As a minimum, the building setback requirement of the applicable zoning district shall be used in establishing such building setback line.
G.
"Bodies of water" as defined in 25 Pa. Code, Chapter 105, as "a natural or artificial lake, pond, reservoir, swamp, marsh or wetland," shall not be subdivided.