Lewisburg City Zoning Code
ARTICLE I
Title, Application and Purpose
§ 360-1 Title and short title.
A.
Title. This chapter establishes regulations and restrictions for the location and use of lots, land, buildings and other structures, the height, number of stories and bulk of buildings and structures, the density of population, requirements for design and architectural standards, off-street parking and similar accessory regulations, in the Borough of Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania, and for said purposes dividing the municipality into districts and prescribing certain uniform regulations for each district and providing for administrative enforcement and amendment of its provisions in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended.
B.
Short Title. This chapter shall be known as, and may be cited as, the Lewisburg Borough Zoning Ordinance of 2011.
§ 360-2 Application.
Except as hereinafter provided, no building, structure, land or parts thereof shall be used or occupied, erected, constructed or assembled, moved, enlarged or structurally altered unless in compliance with the provisions of this chapter or superseded by the Uniform Construction Code or applicable state or federal building code standard.
§ 360-3 Purpose.
This Zoning Ordinance, including the provisions, requirements and districts as hereinafter set forth, is based upon and intended to give effect to the policies and objectives set forth in the Lewisburg Borough Comprehensive Plan, and is intended to promote health, safety and the general welfare by achieving, among others, the following purposes for development:
A.
To promote, protect and facilitate the proper density of population, emergency management preparedness and operations, the provisions of adequate light and air, access to direct sunlight, police protection, vehicle parking and loading space, transportation, water, sewerage, schools, recreational facilities, public grounds, and the provision of a safe, reliable and adequate water supply for domestic, commercial, agricultural and/or industrial use.
B.
To promote, protect and facilitate the preservation of the natural features of the Borough, including wetlands, aquifers and floodplains.
C.
To prevent the overcrowding of land, blight, danger and congestion in travel and transportation, loss of health, life or property from fire, flood, panic or other dangers.
D.
To preserve the historic architectural character of the building stock of the Borough of Lewisburg.
E.
To provide for the use of land within the Borough of Lewisburg for residential housing of various dwelling types.
F.
To accommodate growth, both residential and commercial, in those areas suitable for development and/or redevelopment.
G.
To lessen congestion on the roads and highways.
H.
To avoid population densities in excess of the natural and/or physical capacity of the various sections of the Borough of Lewisburg.
I.
To encourage the most appropriate use of land, based upon the suitability of the proposed development site, to accommodate a proposed use.
J.
To conserve the value of land and buildings.
§ 360-4 Minimum standards.
The provisions of this chapter, in their interpretation and application, shall be held to be minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety, morals and/or general welfare of the residents and inhabitants of the Borough of Lewisburg.
§ 360-5 Community development objectives.
The basis for this chapter is the Lewisburg Borough Comprehensive Plan, as adopted and/or amended by the Borough Council, and issues arising during the meetings during the revision of this chapter. The community development objectives enumerated to achieve local desired goals and objectives are:
A.
General objectives.
(1)
Plan for change in the Borough of Lewisburg in a manner that will protect, preserve, enhance and balance the economic, social, cultural and aesthetic values desirable of an urban center in a rural setting.
(2)
Ensure safe, orderly and efficient growth and/or development consistent with the preservation of sensitive uses and areas within the Borough through land use controls.
(3)
Clarify, review and update existing zoning and subdivision ordinances to evaluate their need and to create greater understanding and compliance by the residents of the Borough.
(4)
Promote greater intermunicipal cooperation in planning.
(5)
Promote realistic opportunities for commercial and residential development/redevelopment consistent with zoning, building and housing ordinances.
(6)
Promote municipal fiscal responsibility.
(7)
Promote the retention of traditional architectural styles in residential and nonresidential reuse and conversions.
(8)
Promote the integration of various community characteristics, including the historic structures, the streetscape and land uses.
B.
Housing objectives.
(1)
Continue to provide and support suitable areas for a variety of housing choices in type, scale and size (single-family dwellings, double dwellings, multifamily dwellings and townhouses).
(2)
Continue to provide and encourage areas for higher density development, where appropriate.
(3)
Continue to provide low-density housing opportunities where they are appropriate.
(4)
Continue to preserve historic properties by private or public means.
(5)
Facilitate cooperation with other municipalities and agencies in Union County whenever possible in order to address major issues related to housing.
(6)
Promote the retention of traditional residential architectural styles in residential rehabilitation and conversion activities, and in the redevelopment of residential districts.
C.
Industrial and commercial objectives.
(1)
Promote the redevelopment and reuse of light-industrial uses within the areas that already contain such uses.
(2)
Promote and support pedestrian-oriented commercial development and redevelopment in existing downtown area.
(3)
Promote and support vehicle-oriented commercial development and redevelopment in existing highway-commercial area.
(4)
Ensure the preservation of a healthy downtown commercial district.
D.
Transportation objectives.
(1)
Encourage and promote cooperation with surrounding municipalities, as well as the commonwealth, in the development of transportation planning, including pedestrian and bicycle transportation, for the greater Lewisburg area.
(2)
Promote the downtown business area through improved signage on Route 15.
(3)
Encourage the Commonwealth to undertake a regional traffic systems study to identify any necessary improvements to hazardous intersections and the congestion created by Routes 15 and 45.
(4)
Examine on-street parking designs and uncoordinated traffic signals that may hinder traffic flow.
(5)
Encourage a circulation system designed to permit ease and safety of pedestrian movement.
(6)
Ensure that roads and highways comply with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation standards.
(7)
Ensure that transportation projects are not detrimental to the environment.
E.
Environmental objectives.
(1)
Preserve the unique character of the Borough of Lewisburg by continuing to concentrate commercial, industrial and residential development in areas in which it already exists.
(2)
Discourage development on environmentally sensitive lands including, but not limited to, irreplaceable wetlands and floodplains.
(3)
Provide for compatible uses in floodplain areas (open space, parks and recreation, etc.).
(4)
Improve stormwater management planning and control.
(5)
Initiate energy use practices that promote beneficial results regarding conservation, efficiency and renewable and sustainable energies.
(6)
Continue to support and improve current recycling efforts.
F.
Recreation and open space objectives.
(1)
Continue to provide an adequate amount of recreational area for the residents of the Borough of Lewisburg.
(2)
Continue to preserve an appropriate portion of the Borough as open space accessible to the general public.
(3)
Ensure that recreational and open space areas are not detrimental to the environment or a nuisance to Borough residents.