Horsham Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE I
Title, Purpose and Jurisdiction
§ 230-1 Short title; when effective.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Horsham Township Zoning Ordinance of 1995." This chapter shall become effective as of the date of publication of the legal notice of the enactment of the chapter. Said publication shall occur within 30 days of enactment of the chapter.
§ 230-2 Legislative intent.
This chapter is enacted for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals, and the general welfare of the Township. It is to reflect the intent of the Township's development objectives as stated in the Township's Comprehensive Plan. It is designed to lessen congestion in the roads and highways, to secure safety from fire, panic and other danger, to provide adequate light and air, to prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue congestion of population, to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements, to conserve the value of buildings, and to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the Township. This chapter is also intended to complement the provisions and purposes of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,[1] as amended.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
§ 230-3 Interpretation.
A.
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the health, safety, morals, and the general welfare of the Township. The Comprehensive Plan in accordance with which this chapter is enacted and which is reflected in the provisions of this chapter has been formulated to implement the purpose set forth in § 230-2 hereinabove, in the respects therein stated and more particularly with a view toward, inter alia, the following objectives:
(1)
Guiding and encouraging the future development of the Township in accordance with comprehensive planning of land use and population density that represents the most beneficial and convenient relationships among the residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas within the Township, having regard to their suitability for the various uses appropriate to each of them and their potentiality for such uses, as indicated by topography and soil conditions, existing man-made conditions, and the trends in population, in the direction and manner of the use of land, in building development and in economic activity, considering such conditions and trends both within the Township and with respect to the relation of the Township to surrounding areas.
(2)
Protecting the character and the social and economic stability of each of such areas and encouraging their orderly and beneficial growth.
(3)
Protecting and conserving the value of land and buildings throughout the Township depending on necessity circumstances, appropriate to the various zoning districts established herein.
(4)
Bringing about through proper timing the gradual conformity of land use to the Comprehensive Plan aforesaid and minimizing conflicts among the use of land and buildings.
(5)
Aiding in bringing about the most beneficial relation between land use and the circulation of traffic throughout the Township, having particular regard to traffic to and from the expressways and to avoidance of congestion in the streets and the provision of safe and convenient access appropriate to the various land uses.
(6)
Aiding in providing a guide for public policy and action in the efficient provision of public facilities and services, in the provision of safe and proper private enterprise in building development, investment, and other economic activity relating to land use.
§ 230-4 Conflict with other provisions.
It is not intended by this chapter to repeal, abrogate, annul or interfere with any existing ordinance or enactment, or with any rule, regulation or permit adopted or issued thereunder, except insofar as the same may be inconsistent or in conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter, provided that where this chapter imposes greater restrictions upon the use of buildings or land, or upon the height and bulk of buildings, or prescribes larger open spaces than are required by the provisions of such ordinance, enactment, rule, regulation or permit, then the provisions of this chapter shall control.