Greenville Mercer County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE I
Short Title, Purpose, Scope, Community Development Objectives and Interpretation
§ 550-1 Short title.
A.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Borough of Greenville Zoning Ordinance, hereinafter referred to as the "Zoning Ordinance."
B.
The accompanying map is hereby declared to be a part of this chapter and shall be known and may be cited as the "Borough of Greenville Zoning Map," hereinafter referred to as the "Zoning Map."
§ 550-2 Purpose.
A.
The regulations of this chapter are made in accordance with a Comprehensive Plan and designed to achieve the following purposes:
(1)
Promote orderly development. To protect the character and maintain the stability of residential, business and manufacturing areas within the Borough, and to promote the orderly and beneficial development of such areas.
(2)
Limit street congestion. To limit congestion in the public streets and to protect the public safety and convenience by providing for off-street parking of motor vehicles, and for the loading and unloading of commercial vehicles.
(3)
Protect against hazards. To provide protection against fire, explosion, noxious fumes, and other hazards in the interest of the public health, safety, comfort and the general welfare.
(4)
Regulate intensity of use. To regulate the intensity of use of zone lots, and to determine the area of open spaces surrounding buildings and structures which are necessary to provide adequate light and air circulation around buildings, privacy and convenience of access to property, and to avoid undue concentration of population.
(5)
Provide adequate facilities. To facilitate the adequate provision of housing, commercial and industrial development, transportation, water supply, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements.
(6)
Establish standards of development. To fix reasonable standards to which buildings or structures shall conform.
(7)
Prohibit incompatible uses. To prohibit uses, buildings or structures which are incompatible with the character of development or the permitted uses within specified zoning districts.
(8)
Regulate alterations of existing buildings. To prevent such additions to, and alterations or remodeling of, existing buildings or structures as would not comply with the restrictions and limitations imposed hereunder.
(9)
Conserve taxable value of land. To conserve the taxable value of land and buildings by encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the Borough.
B.
Such regulations are also made with reasonable consideration, among other factors, to the character of the districts hereinafter set forth and their peculiar suitability for particular uses, and with a view to encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the Borough.
§ 550-3 Scope.
This chapter establishes zoning districts and permits, prohibits, regulates, restricts and determines within these districts and the boundaries of the Borough of Greenville:
A.
Uses of land, watercourses and other bodies of water.
B.
Size, height, bulk, location, erection, construction, repair, maintenance, alteration, razing, removal and use of structures.
C.
Areas and dimensions of land and bodies of water to be occupied by uses and structures, as well as areas, courts, yards and other open spaces and distances to be left unoccupied by uses and structures.
D.
Density of population and intensity of use.
E.
Protection and preservation of natural resources and agricultural land and activities.
§ 550-4 Community development goals and objectives.
This chapter has been developed as a legislative and administrative tool to help the Borough Council and Planning commission carry out the general development goals and objectives as prescribed in the Greenville Borough Comprehensive Plan and contained in Section 1, Volume II, of said Plan. A generalized summary of these community development goals and objectives follow:
A.
Overall goal. It is the overall goal of the Borough of Greenville to develop and preserve a pleasant, attractive, healthy, safe and convenient environment for living, working, shopping and relaxing.
B.
Land use. To provide and perpetuate a land use pattern which includes a wide variety of interrelated land uses in proper proportion, which is able to function efficiently, which features an optimum degree of compatibility between land uses and between development and the natural environment, and which enhances the orderly timing of development.
C.
Environmental. To preserve and enhance the natural and cultural environment of Greenville so that people and nature will exist in productive harmony.
D.
Esthetic. To enrich the lives of all residents by striving to improve the esthetic quality and visual impact of the man-made environment and by preserving and enhancing the natural environment.
E.
Transportation, traffic and circulation. To provide the safe and convenient circulation and movement of goods and people within the community and to points beyond utilizing all methods practical.
F.
Economy. To establish diversified and enduring economic structure which provides residents with a variety of employment opportunities while at the same time preserving a healthful, secure, and pleasant residential environment.
G.
Housing. Provide adequate housing for all the residents of Greenville.
H.
Community facilities and services. Provide for facilities, services and utilities of the quantity and quality necessary to meet the physical, social, cultural, recreational and esthetic needs of the community and to do so in a timely and fiscally responsible manner.
I.
Energy conservation. To promote the conservation of energy in every way possible as a matter of serious public concern.
J.
Historical preservation. To preserve Greenville's historical heritage for the enjoyment, enrichment, and education of future generations, and to engender and perpetuate an appreciation and respect for Greenville's early efforts and achievements.
§ 550-5 Interpretation.
In interpreting 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 written and enacted by the governing body, in favor of the property owner and against any implied extension of the restriction.