Penn Township Westmoreland County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE I
General Provisions
§ 190-101 Title.
This chapter shall be known and cited as the "Penn Township Zoning Ordinance Number 912-2016," as amended.
§ 190-102 Purpose; community development objectives; interpretation; conflict of provisions.
[Amended 2-19-2025 by Ord. No. 969]
A.
It is the purpose of this chapter to lessen congestion on the roads and highways; to secure safety from fire, panic and other danger; to promote health and the general welfare; to avoid undue congestion of population; and to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other requirements. It is not the intent of this chapter to restrict, control or place hardship upon the continued agricultural use of land within its area of jurisdiction and control. The specific objectives of this chapter and the following community development objectives:
(1)
Orderly community development. Orderly community objectives shall be as follows:
(a)
To assure development that is of maximum value to the community and landowners.
(b)
To prevent haphazard growth that interferes with the best economic use of the land and undermines community values.
(c)
To complement orderly land development with an efficient thoroughfare system and adequate community facilities.
(2)
Stable and sustainable development. Stable and sustainable development objectives shall be as follows:
(3)
Community identity. Community identity objectives shall be as follows:
(a)
To recognize the Township's image agricultural legacy and its evolution into a vibrant suburban community maintaining its small town and rural values.
(b)
To delineate the Township's image as a community of well-planned living and leisure areas served by commercial areas.
(c)
To strengthen the Township's identity by promoting a balance between residential and commercial projects.
(d)
To preserve the Township housing facilities and natural location.
(4)
Conservation and sustainability. Conservation and sustainability objectives shall be as follows:
B.
The interpretation and application of the provisions of this chapter shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the health, safety and general welfare of Penn Township. This chapter is not intended to interfere with or abrogate or annul other rules, regulations or ordinances of the Township, provided that where this chapter imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings or premises or upon the height of a building or requires larger open spaces than are imposed by other such rules, regulations or ordinances, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail.
C.
Community development objectives. The Penn Township Comprehensive Plan established community development objectives to enhance the Township's future. Those objectives include the following, and any update to the development objectives as part of an update to the Township's Comprehensive Plan are incorporated herein by reference, such that the objectives of the most recently adopted Comprehensive Plan apply.
(1)
Encourage land use patterns to complement orderly land development with an efficient and safe circulation system which minimizes traffic congestion and ensures existing facilities and services are maintained at levels meeting the needs of current and future residents of the Township.
(2)
Guide commercial and industrial development into areas with adequate infrastructure to include the rejuvenation of existing commercial areas to grow the nonresidential tax base.
(3)
Encourage the preservation of open space and the agricultural character of the Township.
(4)
Foster a balance of low-density residential development with large open spaces and higher density development to support growth of mixed-use and commercial areas.
§ 190-103 Compliance with regulations.
No building shall be erected, converted or altered nor shall any building or land be used except for a purpose permitted in the district in which the building or land is located, except as hereafter provided. No building shall be erected, enlarged or altered except in conformity with the area regulations, minimum yard requirements and minimum off-street parking space requirements of this chapter for the district in which such building is located.
§ 190-104 Adoption of airport zoning regulations.
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Planning Commission's Proposed Airport Zoning Regulations to limit the height of objects around Pittsburgh-Bouquet Airport is hereby adopted by Penn Township and is incorporated herein as Article XI by reference, and the maps contained in these regulations are hereby adopted and incorporated as overlays to the Zoning District Map and are made a part of this chapter by reference.