North Lebanon Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 2
ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS: PROVISION FOR OFFICIAL ZONING MAP
§ 27-201 Official Zoning Map.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984, § 2.01; as amended by Ord. 4-1989, 12/18/1989]
The Township is hereby divided into zones, or districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter. The Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, attested by the Secretary, and bearing the seal of the Township under the following words:
"This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Map referred to in Part 2, § 201 of Ordinance Number 6-4-84, of the Township of North Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania," together with the date of the adoption of this chapter.
If, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and Article VI, Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, changes are made in district boundaries or other matter portrayed on the Official Zoning Map, such changes shall be entered on the Official Zoning Map promptly after the amendment has been approved by the Township Supervisors with an entry on the Official Zoning Map as follows: "On (date), by official action of the Township Supervisors, the following (change) changes were made in the Official Zoning Map: (brief description of nature of change)", which entry shall be signed by the Chairman of the Supervisors and attested by the Township Secretary. No amendment to this chapter which involves matter portrayed on the Official Zoning Map, shall become effective until after such change and entry has been made on said map.
No changes of any nature shall be made in the Official Zoning Map or matter shown thereon except in conformity with the procedures set forth in this chapter. Any unauthorized change of whatever kind by any person or persons shall be considered a violation of this chapter and punishable as provided under Part 21.
Regardless of the existence of purported copies of the Official Zoning Map, which may from time to time be made or published, the Official Zoning Map which shall be located in the office of the Township Supervisors shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land and water areas, buildings, and other structures in the Township.
§ 27-202 Replacement of the Official Zoning Map.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984, § 2.02]
In the event that the Official Zoning Map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost, or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of changes and additions, the Township Supervisors may by resolution adopt a new Official Zoning Map which shall supersede the prior Official Zoning Map. The new Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Chairman of Supervisors, attested by the Township Secretary, and bearing the seal of the Township under the following words: "This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Map, adopted (date) as part of Ordinance No._____ of the Township of North Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania." Unless the prior Official Zoning Map has been lost, or has been totally destroyed, the prior map or any significant parts thereof, remaining shall be preserved together with all available records pertaining to its adoption or amendment.
§ 27-203 Rules for Interpretation of District Boundaries.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984, Art. 3]
1.
Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map, the following rules shall apply:
A.
Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center line of streets, highways, or alleys shall be construed to follow such center lines.
B.
Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines.
C.
Boundaries indicated as approximately following Township limits shall be construed as following such Township limits.
D.
Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed to be midway between the main tracks. E. Boundaries indicated as parallel to, or extensions of, features indicated in § 27-203 (Subsection 1A through D) above shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map.
F.
Where a district boundary line divides a lot which was in single ownership at the time of passage of this chapter, the Zoning Hearing Board may permit, as a Special Exception, the extension of the regulations for either portion of the lot not to exceed 50 feet beyond the district line into the remaining portion of the lot.
§ 27-204 Application of District Regulations.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984, Art. 4; as amended by Ord. 1-2001, 2/19/2001, § XXV]
1.
The regulations set by this chapter within each district shall be minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each class or kind of structure or land, and particularly, except as hereinafter provided:
A.
No buildings, structure, or land shall hereafter be used or occupied, and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered except in conformity with all regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located.
B.
No building or other structure shall hereafter be erected or altered:
(1)
To exceed the height or bulk;
(2)
To accommodate or house a greater number of families;
(3)
To occupy a greater percentage of lot area;
(4)
To have narrower or smaller rear yards, front yards, side yards, or other open spaces than herein required; or in any other manner contrary to the Provisions of this chapter.
C.
No part of a yard, or other open space, or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this chapter, shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.
D.
No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this chapter shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth herein. Yards or lots created after the effective date of this chapter shall meet at least the minimum requirements within their respective zoning districts established by this chapter.
E.
Criteria for Approval or Denial.
[Amended by Ord. No. 5-2023, 5/15/2023]
(1)
When a specific use is neither specifically permitted nor prohibited in the Schedule of District Regulations, the Zoning Officer shall refer the application to the Zoning Hearing Board to hear and decide such request as a special exception. The Zoning Hearing Board shall have the authority to permit the use or deny the use in accordance with the standards governing special exception applications. To approve the use, the Board must find that the proposed use:
(a)
Is similar to and compatible with the permitted uses in the zoning district in which the subject property is located.
(b)
Is not permitted in any other zoning district under the terms of this chapter.
(c)
Is proposed in a manner that complies with all applicable requirements imposed upon other uses that in the opinion of the Zoning Hearing Board most closely reflect the likely impacts that will be generated by the proposed use.
(d)
Complies with all other applicable sections of this chapter and other ordinances of the Township.
(e)
In no way conflicts with the general purposes and intent of this chapter.
(f)
Would not be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare of the neighborhood or Township.
§ 27-205 Use Districts.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984, Art. 5; as amended by Ord. 2-2001, 12/26/2001, § I]
For the purpose of regulating and restricting the location of trades, industries, multiple family houses, single family houses, and other uses of property, the number of square feet of lot area per family house, the width of lots, the location and size of yards, and the size and heights of buildings, the Township is divided into classes of use districts termed respectively:
Class A | Agricultural Districts |
Class RR | Rural Residential Districts |
Class R-1 | Low Density Residential Districts |
Class R-2 | High Density Residential Districts |
Class C-1 | Neighborhood Commercial Districts |
Class C-2 | General Commercial Districts |
Class C-2A & B | General Commercial Districts A and B |
Class MR-1 | Municipal Recreation Districts |
Class I-1 | Industrial Districts |
Class F-1, F-2, and F-3 | Flood Plain Districts |
§ 27-206 Minimum Lot Size.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984; as added by Ord. 1-1999, 8/16/1999, § XXXI]
In interpreting the provisions of this chapter, the minimum square foot for a lot within any district shall be calculated by excluding any area where a structure or a portion of a structure is not permitted, excluding the applicable set back lines.