Hughesville City Zoning Code

R-1 Low Density Residential District. It is the intent of this district to provide an area within the Borough where quiet, low density, single family residential neighborhoods can be situated. Areas set aside for this zone include sections of the community where this type of development already exists and areas where further growth of this type could be located without creating conflicts with other noncompatible land uses. The minimum dimensional standards for this district promote a safe, family home environment and are designed to preserve an important life style choice for all Borough residents.

R-2 Moderate Density Residential District. This district is intended for application to areas within the Borough where moderate density residential development already exists (in the form of duplex or double homes, conversion apartments, or other multifamily housing structures) or where additional development of this type could be satisfactorily be located. The regulations and uses permitted in this zone primarily encourage residential activities, but also provide for some compatible nonresidential uses, such as professional offices, day care centers, schools, etc. Densities vary throughout the district, but the standards established for the zone are intended to ensure that adequate room is reserved or provided to accommodate the parking and open space needs of each use.

R-3 High Density Residential District. The purpose of this district is to set aside an area of the Borough where moderate to high density residential development can be located without creating conflicts with adjacent uses. A mixture of single family dwellings and multifamily apartment units are provided for, as are accessory public or semipublic uses. Other nonresidential uses are discouraged however in order to maximize the space for residential purposes. The area designated for this zone is one of the last sizeable, undeveloped tracts of land in the Borough.

C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District. The intent of this district is to provide area for the orderly development of primarily small-scale personal service businesses and professional office uses in proximity to the community's Central Business District and other neighborhood centers; that is, to establish a transition zone between residential areas of the community and the more intense "down-town" commercial areas. Such areas also provide for a variety of residential structures and related social, civic and religious uses. The regulations for the zone are designed to discourage large commercial operations and the creation of traffic congestion along Borough streets. Adequate off-street parking and loading areas must therefore be provided to assure maintenance of the area's overall character.

C-2 Central Business District. This district provides an area within the community which is expressly intended for the location of commercial establishments, retail sales businesses, financial operations and cultural activities. The intent of the regulations for this district is to protect the integrity of the Borough's present business district along Main Street for the performance of these primary functions. To this end, uses which would interfere with this purpose are discouraged. A standardized theme/exterior storefront decor has even been suggested to better preserve the small town character of this segment of the community.

I Industrial District. The purpose of this district is to identify certain areas of the Borough for general or light industrial, manufacturing and/or warehousing purposes. The regulations governing this zone prohibit any new use which would substantially interfere with this purpose. Areas identified for industrial use were chosen in an attempt to maximize existing facilities, public utilities and services, and to minimize any negative effects which might be caused by such operations. Requirements are included to insure that adequate buffer yards, planting strips or screenings are provided between the uses in this zone and other adjoining activities.

O Open Space District. This district is intended to recognize existing public and privately owned recreation areas, i.e. Bodine Park and the Lycoming County Fair Grounds, as valuable open space resources. Uses permitted in the district are primarily recreational in nature, but also include a few compatible nonrecreational activities, i.e., warehousing or storage facilities and nurseries or green-houses.

FP 100-Year Floodplain District (Overlying District). It is the intent of this district to prevent the loss of property and life; the creation of health and safety hazards; the disruption of commercial and government services; and the extraordinary and unnecessary expenditure of public funds for flood protection and relief. To accomplish these objectives, permitted uses located in identified floodplain areas must be floodproofed against flood damage (see Part 6). In these floodplain areas, development and/or the use of land shall be permitted in accordance with the regulations of the underlying district, provided that all such uses, activities, and/or development shall be undertaken in accordance with the floodproofing and related requirements of this and all other codes and ordinances in effect in Hughesville Borough.

The locations and boundaries of the zoning districts are hereby established as shown on the Official Zoning Map, which is made a part of this chapter together with all future notations, references and amendments.

No change of any nature shall be made to the Official Zoning Map, except in conformance with the procedures set forth in § 1101 of this chapter. The final authority as to the current status of zoning districts shall be the Official Zoning Map. Any changes made to the zoning districts shall be made on the Official Zoning Map promptly after the amendment has been approved by the Borough Council, and shall bear the date of the amendment and the signatures of the Council President and Borough Secretary.

Designation of District Boundaries. The district boundary lines, except for the floodplain districts, are intended to generally follow the center lines of streets, highways, railroad rights-of-way, existing lot lines, Borough boundary lines, or streams or may be designated as shown on the Official Zoning Map by a specific dimension from a road center line or other boundary as indicated.

Determination of District Boundary Locations. Where uncertainty exists with respect to the actual location of a district boundary line in a particular instance, the Zoning Officer shall request the Zoning Hearing Board to render its interpretation with respect thereto. Provided, however, no boundary shall be changed by the Zoning Hearing Board. If the true location of the boundary cannot be determined by interpretation of the Zoning Hearing Board, a request for corrective action shall be filed with the Borough Council.

Severed Lots. Where a district boundary line divides a lot which was in single ownership at the time of passage of this chapter or amendment thereto, the Zoning Hearing Board may permit the extension of the regulations for either zone into the remaining portion of the lot for a distance not to exceed 50 feet beyond the district line, provided they find that such extension is consistent with the purposes of this chapter.