Middletown Township Bucks
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE I
Purpose; Interpretation; Short Title; Statement of Community Goals and Objectives
§ 500-101 Purpose.
[Amended 12-1-1992 by Ord. No. 92-15]
This chapter is enacted for the following purposes:
A.
To promote, protect and facilitate the public health, safety, morals, general welfare, coordinated and practical community development, proper density of population, emergency management preparedness and operations, airports and national defense facilities, the provisions of adequate light and air, access to incident solar energy, police protection, vehicle parking and loading space, transportation, water, sewage, schools, recreational facilities and public grounds, the provision of a safe, reliable and adequate water supply for domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial uses, and other public requirements, as well as preservation of the natural, scenic and historic values in the environment and preservation of forests, wetlands, aquifers, floodplains and other natural resources.
B.
To prevent overcrowding of land, blight, danger and congestion in travel and transportation, loss of health, life or property from fire, flood, panic or other dangers.
C.
To provide for the use of land within the Township 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 a zoning ordinance shall not be deemed invalid for the failure to provide for any other specific dwelling type.
D.
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.
E.
To minimize danger to public health and safety and damage to property by providing for management of stormwater runoff in a manner consistent with the stormwater management regulations contained in the Middletown Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (Chapter 440) and the Neshaminy Creek Watershed Stormwater Management Plan.[1]
§ 500-102 Interpretation.
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare. Where the provisions of this chapter impose greater restrictions than those of any statute, other ordinance or regulation, the provisions of this chapter shall be controlling. Where the provisions of any statute, other ordinance or regulation impose greater restrictions than this chapter, the provisions of such statute, other ordinance or regulation shall be controlling.
§ 500-103 Short title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Middletown Township Zoning Ordinance."
§ 500-104 Statement of community goals and objectives.
The following statement of community goals and objectives is designed to guide growth and development in Middletown Township. This statement shall serve as an adjunct to the Middletown Township Comprehensive Plan, the East Middletown Development Guide, the North Middletown Study, and the West Middletown Study. This statement is in compliance with the requirements of § 606 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247, as amended by Act 170).[1]
A.
Growth. Growth is a primary concern in planning for the future of Middletown Township. The Township is an attractive locale for both residential and nonresidential development, and this trend can be expected to continue in the future. Many facets of the community are affected by growth, either directly or indirectly. These include the natural and man-made environment, the transportation network, and community services and facilities. These impacts can be positive and negative. Thus, zoning should allow growth to occur but should control those aspects of growth which are undesirable.
(1)
Goal. To manage growth in Middletown Township so that both individual landowners' rights and the interests of the community as a whole are protected.
(2)
Objectives.
(a)
To promote a land use pattern that protects those historical, cultural and natural features which are important to the character of the Township while still allowing opportunities for growth.
(b)
To direct more intensive development to those areas of the Township which are most appropriate for growth and which can best accommodate it.
(c)
To limit the impact of new development on existing development through appropriate land use standards such as buffer yards and setback requirements.
(d)
To develop regulations so that the individual landowner can choose a variety of alternative methods of using his land.
B.
Environmental protection. The environment is a common or public good. Article I-27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to public natural resources in the state. The Constitution provides for the state to protect these resources for present and future generations. Furthermore, § 604 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code states that one of the purposes of zoning is to preserve the natural, scenic and historic values in the environment. Thus, Middletown Township can justify environmental protection regulations on the basis of the State Constitution and various implementing statutes.
(1)
Goal. To protect the people's right to clean air, pure water, and the other natural and historic resources of our environment and to guarantee a quality environment for present and future populations.
(2)
Objectives.
(a)
To preserve the unique qualities and natural resources of the Township by incorporating environmental protection standards and other appropriate land use standards into this chapter.
(b)
To evaluate the environmental impacts of changes in zoning and proposed developments, making every effort to minimize adverse environmental impacts through sound planning and design.
C.
Balanced community.
(1)
Land should be allocated for all reasonable types of uses to satisfy community needs and to provide a wide range of opportunities for Township residents. Commercial uses provide convenient goods and services while industrial uses provide employment opportunities. Both of these uses expand the tax base, alleviating some of the tax burden on Township residents. A wide range of housing types presents opportunities for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and offers housing options for Township residents. Thus, the allocation of land for all reasonable uses will create numerous and expanded opportunities for Township residents.
(2)
Proper land use planning creates the opportunity for a balance between the Township's existing land uses and the demands of anticipated growth. This balance is provided by allocating the land in the Township for specific types and intensities of land use.
(a)
Goal. To provide for a balanced community containing all reasonable types of land uses including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational and institutional.
(b)
Objectives.
[1]
To ensure that this chapter permits a variety of land uses in appropriate locations in the Township.
[2]
To ensure that this chapter permits a range of housing types at varying densities so that all socioeconomic groups have access to the community.
[3]
To analyze all planning and zoning proposals to ensure that new growth and development enhance the balance of land uses in the Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.