Oxford City Zoning Code
PART 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 27-101 Short Title; When Effective.
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Borough of Oxford Zoning Ordinance of 1986," as amended from time to time. This chapter shall become effective five days following its official adoption.
§ 27-102 Purposes.
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986]
This chapter is enacted to promote, protect, and facilitate the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of the Borough of Oxford. The chapter is designed to coordinate community development through the proper siting of population density, land uses, public facilities, and open spaces. The chapter is established to prevent the overcrowding of land, congestion in travel and the loss of health, life, or property from fire, flood, panic, or other dangers. The chapter is intended to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, school, and other public facilities.
§ 27-103 Community Development Objectives.
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986]
1.
This chapter incorporates the community development objectives set forth in the Oxford Region Comprehensive Plan. To ensure compatibility with the plan, interpretation of chapter provisions should be made with respect to the following community development objectives:
A.
Guide and encourage future development of the Borough in an orderly fashion in accordance with comprehensive planning policy recommendations for land use and population density that represent the most beneficial and convenient relationship among residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational areas within the Borough, having regard for the suitability of land to support land uses.
B.
Protect the character and the social and economic stability of neighborhoods, the Central Business District, industrial and institutional areas by encouraging compatible land use configurations.
C.
Protect and conserve the value of land and buildings throughout the Borough through the establishment of zoning districts.
D.
Bring about through proper timing the gradual conformity of land use to the Comprehensive Plan.
E.
Aid in bringing about the most beneficial relationship between land use and the circulation of traffic throughout the Borough, having particular regard to the avoidance of congestion and the provision of safe and convenient access appropriate to the various land uses.
F.
Cooperate with neighboring communities through the Oxford Regional Planning Commission in developing plans and ordinances which serve regional needs and in providing the basis for making available community facilities throughout the region.
§ 27-104 Establishment of Controls.
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986]
1.
The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as amended, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., grants local municipalities the power to enact, amend, and repeal zoning ordinances. The Borough of Oxford has enacted this chapter in accordance with the provisions of Act 247, establishing the following controls:
A.
Uniform Regulations. The regulations established by this chapter within each district shall apply uniformly to each class or type of structure or land.
B.
New Uses and Structures. In all districts, following the effective date of this chapter, any new building or other structure or any tract of land shall be constructed, developed, and used only in accordance with regulations specified for each district.
2.
For purposes of floodplain management, this section is adopted to enable the Borough to fulfill its responsibilities under the Pennsylvania Flood Plain Management Act of 1978[1] by adopting floodplain management regulations to promote public health, safety, and the general welfare of its citizens.
[Added by Ord. 907, 9/18/2017]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 32 P.S. § 679.101 et seq.
§ 27-105 Interpretation.
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986]
In interpreting and applying this chapter, the provisions within shall be held to be the minimum requirements for promoting the purposes of § 27-102 and the community development objectives of § 27-103. Any use, structure, building or sign shall conform to all provisions of this chapter except those for which an exception or variance may be granted. Nothing in this chapter shall require any change in plans or construction of a building for which a building permit has been issued by the Borough prior to the effective date of this chapter and which is completed within one year of the effective date of this chapter.
§ 27-106 Conflicting Provisions.
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986]
It is not intended by this chapter to repeal, abrogate, annul, or interfere with any existing ordinance or any rule, regulation, or permit adopted or issued, provided that the same is not in conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter. Where the provisions of this chapter impose greater restrictions on the use of land or structures, the provisions of this chapter shall control. Where the provisions of any statute, other ordinance, or regulations impose greater restrictions than established by this chapter, the provisions of such statute, other ordinance, or regulation shall be controlling.
§ 27-107 Repealer.
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986; as amended by Ord. 622, 12/29/1987, § I.A]
All ordinances and enactments inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter are hereby repealed.