Title. An ordinance permitting, prohibiting, regulating, restricting, and determining the uses of land, watercourses, and other bodies of water; the size, height, bulk, location, erection, construction, repair, maintenance, alteration, razing, removal and use of structures; the areas and dimensions of land and bodies of water to be occupied by uses and structures as well as Courts, setbacks, and other open spaces and distances to be left unoccupied by uses and structures; the density of population and intensity of use; creating zoning districts and establishing the boundaries thereof; authorizing the appointment of a Zoning Officer; creating a Zoning Hearing Board; and providing for the administration, amendment, and enforcement of the ordinance, including the imposition of penalties.

Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Kidder Township Zoning Ordinance."

To promote, protect and facilitate one or more of the following: the public health, safety, morals, general welfare; coordinated and practical community development; density of population; civil defense and disaster evacuation, airports, and national defense facilities; the provisions of adequate light and air; police protection; vehicle parking and loading space; transportation; natural resources, agricultural land and uses; the safe use of natural or artificial bodies of water, boat docks and related facilities; reliable, safe and adequate water supplies; safe and adequate sewerage disposal, schools, public grounds and other public requirements and other purposes set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

To prevent one or more of the following: overcrowding of land, watercourses and other bodies of water, blight, danger and congestion in travel and transportation, loss of health, life or property from fire, flood, panic or other dangers.

To preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering topography, soil type and classification, and present use.

To provide for the use of land within the municipality for residential housing of various dwelling types encompassing all basic forms of housing, including single-family and two-family dwellings, and a reasonable range of multifamily dwellings in various arrangements, mobile homes and mobile home parks; provided, however, that no zoning ordinance shall be deemed invalid for the failure to provide for any other specific dwelling type.

To accommodate reasonable overall community growth, including population and employment growth, and opportunities for development of a variety of residential dwelling types and nonresidential uses.

Existing uses. Any legally established existing use of a building, structure, lot or parcel of land or part thereof as of the effective date of this chapter may be continued.

Conformance. Any activity regulated by this chapter shall only occur or be undertaken and be continued in conformance with the requirements of this chapter.

Authorization. This chapter regulates all matters and activities authorized by Article VI of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended.

Regulated activities.

Repairs and maintenance. Ordinary repairs, structural strengthening, facade improvements and maintenance to existing structures that do not infringe upon a required setback may be made without a zoning permit provided such activity does not involve 1) a change in use; 2) an expansion, construction or placement of a structure; 3) an increase in the number of dwelling units or boarding house units; and/or 4) any other activity regulated by this chapter.

Municipal authorities and water companies. A municipal authority, water company or any other municipality that plans to expand water, sanitary sewer or storm sewer service via a new main extension to a proposed development that has not received any municipal approvals within the Township shall:

Public Utility Commission.

Effect of Official Map. All activities subject to this chapter shall also be subject to the reservations shown and established by the Kidder Township Official Map which has been enacted by ordinance pursuant to Article IV of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Code, as amended. The applicant shall, prior to submitting an application, determine if in any of the land proposed for subdivision or land development is subject to the Township Official Map. If any of the land is subject to the Official Map, the options in the Township Official Map Ordinance are available to the applicant. The applicant is encouraged to contact the Township Zoning Officer prior to submitting the application.

Interpretation. In interpretation and application, the provisions of this chapter shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, morals, and the general welfare of the Township and its citizens.

Conflict.

Other laws and regulations. Whenever the provisions of any other law, regulation and/or statute require a greater width or size of setbacks, courts or other open spaces, or require a lower height of buildings and/or structures or smaller number of stories, or require a greater percentage of lot to be left unoccupied, or impose other higher standards than are required by the regulations made under authority of this chapter, the provisions of such other law, regulation and/or statute shall govern.

Private provisions.

Specificity. Whenever any regulations pertaining to a specific use or activity under authority of this chapter require a greater width or size of setbacks, courts or other open space, or require a lower height of buildings and/or structures or smaller number of stories, or require a greater percentage of lot to be left unoccupied, or impose other higher standards than are required for the zoning district or generally required under this chapter, the greater or higher standards shall govern.