Manor City Zoning Code
PART 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 27-101 Short Title.
[Added by Ord. No. 605-25-02, 4/9/2025][1]]
This chapter shall be known and cited as the "Manor Borough Zoning Ordinance."
[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter also repealed Ord. 315, Ord. 363, Ord. 364, Ord. 372, Ord. 377, Ord. 382, Ord. 384, Ord. 411, Ord. 472, Ord. 514, Ord. 519, Ord. 520, Ord. 524, Ord. 539, Ord. 547, Ord. 554, Ord. 567, Ord. No. 585-19-05, Ord. No. 590-21-02, Ord. Ord. No. 593-22-01, and Ord. No. 597-23-03.
§ 27-102 Purpose and Community Development Objectives.
[Added by Ord. No. 605-25-02, 4/9/2025]
1.
The following community development objectives are the basis for the provisions of this chapter. These objectives are adopted as a statement of legislative findings and may be used in evaluating any proposed amendments.
2.
The general objective for the management of growth in Manor Borough is to provide a pleasant, attractive, healthy, safe and convenient environment for living, working, education, shopping and recreation. This objective shall be pursued by the creation and implementation of land use plans to:
A.
Preserve and improve the natural environment.
B.
Increase property values, employment opportunities and the economic base of the community.
C.
Provide safe, adequate and attractive housing.
D.
Obviate losses from flooding and minimize health hazards which might result from development.
E.
Provide the necessary infrastructure of utilities and vehicular and pedestrian transportation arteries.
F.
Provide recreational and community facilities.
G.
Provide for ongoing community planning and growth management.
3.
The preservation and improvement of the environment shall be pursued by:
A.
The elimination of visual and physical blight such as overhead utility lines, concentrations of signs of excessive size and proximity, large expanses of unbroken pavement and dilapidated structures.
B.
The preservation of natural topography and woodlands, including the limiting of hillside development beyond a reasonable gradient, and the control of floodplains and watersheds.
C.
The prevention of excess erosion, hazardous rock and soil slippage, sedimentation and other soil and water management problems.
D.
The regulation and control of the design, construction, quality of materials, use, location and maintenance of grading, excavation and fill.
E.
The reclamation of derelict land.
F.
The dedication and acquisition by the Borough of natural open space and wooded slope land to link existing and proposed park sites and neighborhoods, and to prevent ecological problems resulting from extensive cut and fill necessary to develop wooded slope lands.
4.
The increase of property values, employment opportunities and the economic base of the community shall be pursued by:
A.
The promotion of balanced economic growth and employment opportunities.
B.
The concentration of commercial and industrial uses in the areas where streets and utilities can provide the necessary services and where conflicts with other uses can be minimized through site design and transitional provisions.
5.
The provision of safe, adequate and attractive housing for the entire population of the community shall be pursued by:
A.
Providing housing density alternatives and a mix of housing types, correlating residential density and housing type with topography, environmental conditions and the capacity of and distance from existing and proposed utilities, streets and community facilities.
B.
The removal of dilapidated housing, the rehabilitation of deteriorating housing, the maintenance of sound housing and the development of new housing.
C.
The promotion of an attractive residential environment through the implementation of the other objectives set forth herein.
D.
The provision of residential areas with adequate commercial, governmental, recreational and educational facilities.
E.
The preservation of historical landmarks.
6.
The creation and implementation of land use plans shall seek to achieve the foregoing objectives and to:
A.
Avoid incompatible land use if possible and protect against the detrimental effects of incompatible land uses through planting, open space and natural breaks in topography.
B.
Concentrate development where possible to prevent sprawl, conserve open space and make full use of utilities and services.
C.
Provide site plan control.
7.
The prevention of loss of life, disruption of commerce and governmental services, unnecessary expenditure of public funds for flood protection and relief and the related impairment of the tax base shall be pursued by:
A.
Regulation of uses and development in floodplains which, acting alone or in combination with other uses and development, may cause unacceptable increases in flood heights, velocities and frequencies.
B.
Restricting and prohibiting certain uses, activities and development from locating within areas subject to flooding.
C.
Requiring all those uses, activities and developments that occur in floodplains to be protected and flood-proofed against flooding and flood damage.
D.
Protecting individuals from buying lands and structures which are unsuited for intended purposes because of flood hazards.
8.
Providing necessary infrastructure for utilities and transportation arteries shall be pursued by:
A.
The extension of water lines, storm and sanitary sewers and roads and their improvement where economically feasible to guide and promote development.
B.
The encouragement of public utilities to improve and extend services consistent with the objectives set forth herein.
C.
Traffic planning and control which will provide safe, rapid and convenient movement of people and goods within and through the Borough, with a separation of through and local traffic, provide for pedestrians and minimal disruption of existing and proposed development patterns and community integrity.
9.
Providing recreational and community facilities shall be pursued by:
A.
The creation of outdoor and indoor recreational facilities to accommodate the existing and future population.
B.
The promotion of schools and parks in close proximity to decrease duplication of services and to provide the greatest value for public expenditures.
C.
The promotion of acquisition or dedication of natural open space for park and recreational purposes.
D.
The provision of residential areas with adequate commercial, governmental, recreational and educational facilities.
E.
The preservation of historical landmarks.
§ 27-103 Compliance Required.
[Added by Ord. No. 605-25-02, 4/9/2025]
Full compliance with all the provisions of this chapter, and the lawful issuance of all permits and certificates required by this chapter, shall be required before:
1.
Any structure is located, erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, altered, converted or enlarged or any structure or land is altered or used.
2.
The subdivision or land development of any lot, tract or parcel of land is made.
3.
Any street, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, water main or other improvements in connection therewith is laid out, constructed, opened or dedicated for public use or travel or for the common use of occupants of buildings abutting thereon.
4.
Any lot, parcel or tract in a subdivision is sold, transferred, leased or otherwise conveyed to new owners and/or occupants.
5.
Any grading, excavation or fill is enlarged, altered or repaired.
6.
Any sign is erected or altered as specified herein.
§ 27-104 Permits Required.
[Added by Ord. No. 605-25-02, 4/9/2025]
To ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the following permits and plat approvals are required:
1.
A zoning permit shall be required before any person may construct, reconstruct, move, alter or enlarge any structure or building; or change the use of a structure or land to a different use; or change a nonconforming use or structure.
A.
No building permit shall be issued for the construction of a structure in a subdivision, land development or planned residential development until the final plat has been approved by the Council of Manor Borough and has been recorded as required herein.
2.
An occupancy permit shall be required prior to the occupancy of land or structure or any portion thereof to certify the validity of conforming or nonconforming uses or structures. Any use of property existing without an occupancy permit shall not be deemed "lawfully existing" for purposes of determining whether a use of land or structure thereupon is nonconforming under Part 10 of this chapter.
3.
A zoning permit shall be required before any person may hereafter erect or alter in any way any sign regulated by this chapter.
4.
Every permit or permission granted hereunder shall become null and void if the work authorized has not been completed within one year from the date of issuance. If the activity for which the original permit was issued continues for more than one year, a new permit must be obtained. The permit may be renewed by the Zoning Officer if there has been no change in applicable regulations and if such renewal is requested within one month of the date of expiration of such permit. If applicable regulations have been changed, the full review and approval procedure required by this chapter shall apply. No permit issued by authorization of the Zoning Hearing Board as set forth hereafter shall be renewed except by authority of the Zoning Hearing Board.
5.
Every permit shall be revocable if the Zoning Officer determines that the applicant or occupant is not complying with any condition required for the issuance of said permit.
§ 27-105 Interpretation.
[Added by Ord. No. 605-25-02, 4/9/2025]
The provisions of this chapter shall be interpreted as the minimum requirements imposed for the protection of the health, safety, and general welfare of the Borough.
§ 27-106 Disclaimer of Liability.
[Added by Ord. No. 605-25-02, 4/9/2025]
Neither the issuance of a permit under the provisions of this chapter, nor compliance with its provisions, nor nonconformance with conditions required by any such permit shall relieve any person from liability for damage resulting from any development activity, nor attach any liability upon the Borough for damages to persons or property. The degree of flood protection sought by the provisions of this chapter is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on acceptable engineering methods of study. Larger floods may occur on rare occasions. Flood heights may be increased by man-made or natural causes, such as ice jams and bridge openings restricted by debris. This chapter does not imply that areas outside the floodplain districts or that land uses permitted within such districts will be free from flooding or flood damage. This chapter shall not create liability on the part of the Borough or on any officer or employee thereof for any flood damage that results from reliance on this chapter, or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder.
Further, the grant of a zoning permit in any district shall not constitute a representation, guarantee or warranty of any kind by the Borough and cooperating agencies, or by any official or employee thereof of the practicability or safety of the proposed use, and shall create no liability upon the Borough, its officials, cooperating agencies and employees.
§ 27-107 Severability.
[Added by Ord. No. 605-25-02, 4/9/2025]
In the event that any word, phrase, section, sentence, clause or part of this chapter is held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect or impair any remaining provision, section, sentence, clause or part of the Ordinance, it being the intent of the Borough of Manor that such remainder shall be and shall remain in full force and effect for this purpose and the provisions of this chapter are hereby decaled to be severable.
§ 27-108 Finances.
[Added by Ord. No. 605-25-02, 4/9/2025]
The Borough Council shall appropriate from general funds, or other sources, monies to finance the preparation, administration and enforcement of this chapter, to finance the work of the Zoning Hearing Board and to support or oppose, upon appeal to the Courts, decisions of the Zoning Hearing Board. For the same purposes, the Borough Council may accept gifts and grants of money and services from private sources and from the Commonwealth and federal government. The Borough Council shall prescribe fees to be charged concerning the administration of this chapter.
§ 27-109 Repealer.
[Added by Ord. No. 605-25-02, 4/9/2025]
The provisions of the Manor Borough Zoning Ordinance No. 315 enacted on September 11, 1974, and any amendments thereto, are hereby repealed and shall be replaced by the terms of this chapter.