Elizabethtown City Zoning Code

Conical Surface Zone. Slopes 20 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the periphery of the horizontal surface and at 150 feet above the established airport elevation and extending to a height of 350 feet above the established airport elevation or at a height of 660 feet above mean sea level.

Horizontal Surface Zone. Established at 150 feet above the established airport elevation or at a height of 460 feet above mean sea level, in the case of the Harrisburg International Airport.

Precision Instrument Runway Approach Surface Zone. Slopes 50 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending to a horizontal distance of 10,000 feet along the extended runway center line; thence slopes upward 40 feet horizontally for each foot vertically to an additional horizontal distance of 40,000 feet along the extended runway center line.

Runway Larger Than Utility Visual Approach Surface Zone. Slopes 20 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the end of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending to a horizontal distance of 5,000 feet along the extended runway center line.

Runway Larger Than Utility With a Visibility Minimum as Low as 3/4 Mile Nonprecision Instrument Approach Surface Zone. Sloped 34 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the end of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending to a horizontal distance of 10,000 feet along the extended runway center line.

Runway Larger Than Utility With a Visibility Minimum Greater Than 3/4 Mile Nonprecision Instrument Approach Surface Zone. Slopes 34 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the end of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending to a horizontal distance of 10,000 feet along the extended runway center line.

Transitional Surface Zone. Slopes seven feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the sides of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and the approach surface and extending to a height of 150 feet above the airport elevation, which is 310 feet above mean sea level in the case of the Harrisburg International Airport. In addition to the foregoing, when an airport has a precision instrument runway approach zone, there are established height limits sloping seven feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the sides of and at the same elevation as the approach surface and extending to where they intersect the conical surface. Where the precision instrument runway-approach zone projects beyond the conical zone, there are established height limits sloping seven feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the sides of and at the same elevation as the approach surface and extending a horizontal distance of 5,000 feet measured at 90° angles to the extended runway center line.

Utility Runway Nonprecision Instrument Approach Surface Zone. Slopes 20 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the end of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending to a horizontal distance of 5,000 feet along the extended runway center line.

Utility Runway Visual Approach Surface Zone. Slopes 20 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the end of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending to a horizontal distance of 5,000 feet along the extended runway center line.

Regulations Not Retroactive. The regulations prescribed by this Part shall not be construed to require the removal, lowering or other change or alternation of any structure or tree not conforming to the regulations as of the effective date of this Part or otherwise interfere with the continuance of any nonconforming use, except as provided in this Part relating to permits and variances. Nothing contained herein shall require any change in the construction, alteration or intended use of any structure, the construction or alteration of which was begun prior to the effective date of this Part and is diligently executed.

Marking and Lighting. Notwithstanding the preceding provision of this subsection, the owner of any existing nonconforming structure or tree is hereby required to permit the installation, operation and maintenance thereon or nearby of such markers and lights as shall be deemed necessary by the Borough Council of the Borough of Elizabethtown to indicate to the operators of aircraft in the vicinity of the airport the presence of such airport obstruction. Such markers and lights shall be installed, operated and maintained at the expense of the owner of structures or objects.

Except as specifically provided in this section, no material change shall be made in the use of land, no structure shall be erected or otherwise established and no tree shall be planted in any zone hereby created unless a permit therefor shall have been applied for and granted. Each application for a permit shall indicate the purpose for which the permit is desired, with sufficient particularity to permit it to be determined whether the resulting use, structure or tree would conform to the regulations herein prescribed. If such determination is in the affirmative, the permit shall be granted. No permit for a use inconsistent with the provisions of this Part shall be granted unless a variance has been approved in accordance with Subsection 4 hereafter.

Nothing contained in any of the foregoing exceptions shall be construed as permitting or intending to permit any construction or alteration of any structure or growth of any tree in excess of any of the height limits established by this Part, except that no permit is required to make maintenance repairs to or to replace parts of existing structures which do not enlarge or increase the height of an existing structure.

Any person desiring to erect any structure or increase the height of any structure or permit the growth of any object of natural growth or otherwise use his property in violation of airport zoning regulations may apply to the Zoning Hearing Board for a variance from the zoning regulations in question. A variance shall only be granted after the requirements of Subsections 6 and 7 hereafter are satisfied. A variance may be allowed where a literal application or enforcement of the regulations would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship and the relief granted would not be contrary to the public interest but would do substantial justice and would be in accordance with the spirit of this Part. Any variance may be granted subject to any reasonable condition that the Zoning Hearing Board may deem necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Part.

The application for variance shall be accompanied by a determination from the Federal Aviation Administration as to the effect of the proposal on the operation of air navigation facilities and the safe, efficient use of navigable airspace. Additionally, no application for variance to the requirements of this Part may be considered by the Zoning Hearing Board unless a copy of the application has been furnished to the airport manager (or person of equivalent description) for advice as to the aeronautical effects of the variance. If the airport manager (or person of equivalent description) does not respond to the application within 15 days after receipt, the Zoning Hearing Board may act without such input to grant or deny said application.