Forest Hills City Zoning Code
PART 1
BASIC PROVISIONS
§ 27-101 Short Title.
[Ord. 970, 5/16/2007, § 101]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Borough of Forest Hills Zoning Ordinance" and the district map shall be known as the "Official Borough of Forest Hills Zoning District Map."
§ 27-102 Authority.
[Ord. 970, 5/16/2007, § 102]
This chapter is adopted by virtue of the authority granted to the Borough by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., as amended.
§ 27-103 Interpretation.
[Ord. 970, 5/16/2007, § 103]
1.
Wherever the regulations within this chapter are at variance with other lawfully adopted rules, regulations, ordinances, restrictions or covenants, those which impose the most restrictive requirements shall govern.
2.
No structure or use which was not lawfully existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter shall become or be made lawful solely by the reason of the adoption of this chapter; and to the extent that, and in any respect that, said unlawful structure or use is in conflict with the requirements of the chapter, said structure remains unlawful hereunder.
3.
Regardless of any other provision of this chapter, no land shall be used and no structure erected or maintained in violation of any state or federal environmental protection law or regulation.
§ 27-104 Statement of Purposes.
[Ord. 970, 5/16/2007, § 104]
The fundamental purposes of this chapter are to promote the safety, health, convenience and general welfare; to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the Borough; to conserve and stabilize the value of property; to prevent overcrowding of land and buildings; to avoid undue concentration of population; to lessened congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to provide adequate open spaces for light and air; to facilitate adequate provision of streets and highways, water, sewerage, drainage and other public facilities; to conserve life, property and natural resources; and to conserve the expenditure of funds earmarked for public improvement.
§ 27-105 Community Development Objectives.
[Ord. 970, 5/16/2007, § 106]
1.
The goals and objectives of the 2003 Borough of Forest Hills Comprehensive Plan are hereby incorporated by reference. The general community development objectives on which this chapter is based are:
A.
Expand the Borough's employment opportunities by attracting a variety of new local and regional businesses/uses.
B.
Develop civic spaces that would serve as "community nodes," including parks, plazas, trails and public squares.
C.
Improve the visual appeal of Ardmore Boulevard and provide amenities that will draw people to shop in the Borough's commercial district.
D.
Retain the current mix of housing types and the character of existing residential neighborhoods and leverage the "market" appeal of the Borough's quality/diverse housing stock.
E.
Build on the Borough's locational advantages related to major transportation corridors, regional employment centers and regional amenities.
F.
Maintain the community's parks, parklets, sports fields/courts, swimming pool and open space areas (steep hillsides).
G.
Establish alternative pedestrian/bicycle connections between the residential and nonresidential districts.
H.
Market the current community-wide events to enhance civic pride.
§ 27-106 Compliance.
[Ord. 970, 5/16/2007, § 107]
No structure shall be located, erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, altered, converted or enlarged; nor shall any structure or land be used or designed to be used, except in full compliance with all the provisions of this chapter, and after the lawful issuance of all permits and certificates required by Part 13 of this chapter.
§ 27-107 Buildings Exempt from Regulations.
[Added by Ord. 1056, 6/15/2016]
This chapter shall not apply to any building of the Borough or extension thereof, or to the use of any premises by the Borough, if the Borough Council shall decide, during a public meeting, that such building or extension thereof, or such use of any premises, is reasonably necessary for the convenience or welfare of the public.