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Perkiomen Township City Zoning Code

ARTICLE I

Short Title; Legislative Intent; Community Development Objectives

§ 310-1 Short title.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "the Perkiomen Township Zoning Ordinance of 2019."

§ 310-2 Legislative intent.

This chapter is enacted for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the Township. The chapter is in accordance with a Comprehensive Plan and is designed to lessen congestion on the roads and highways; to secure safety from fire, panic and other danger; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to avoid undue congestion of population; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements; to conserve the value of buildings; and to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the Township.

§ 310-3 Community development objectives.

This chapter is enacted in conformance with the requirements of the Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as amended.[1] It is the intent of this chapter to implement the goals and objectives set forth in the Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Comprehensive Plan of 2014, as amended, which is hereby incorporated by reference into this chapter. In addition, the following specific objectives are intended to guide the Township's future development:
A. 
General land use goals.
(1) 
To encourage orderly suburban development that is consistent with past development trends and Township policies. Objectives:
(a) 
Promote development that is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan by coordinating the Land Use Plan with the Water System Plan and the Planned Municipal Sewer and Water Service Map.
(b) 
Encourage development that reflects the Township's desire for an effective use of municipal services.
(c) 
Examine innovative zoning techniques to promote good land use.
(d) 
Continue to provide regulations that assist property owners in protecting the investment that they have in their land.
(e) 
Promote safe and convenient access onto Route 29 by encouraging shared driveways and parking facilities and, whenever possible, directing access points onto secondary streets.
(2) 
To preserve and enhance the character of the Villages of Rahns and Graterford. Objectives:
(a) 
Preserve significant structures within the villages.
(b) 
Promote new development that is sensitive to the traditional character of the villages.
(c) 
Encourage a compatible land use transition between the existing villages and the adjacent areas.
(3) 
To encourage the retention of the Township's rural characteristics in the designated low-density residential areas. Objectives:
(a) 
Maintain, whenever possible, open space areas and scenic vistas and preserve woodlands, farm areas, stream valleys and selected rural roads.
(b) 
Examine innovative methods and flexible design standards that help to retain the rural character of these areas.
B. 
Open space land use goals. To continue to ensure that there is an adequate amount of open space and recreational areas for the Township. Objectives:
(1) 
Continue to provide for open space through the requirement of open space in clusters and in other zoning districts. Such required open space shall be privately owned, operated and maintained until such a time when the Township has the necessary resources and may desire to operate and maintain publicly owned open space.
(2) 
Develop a dialogue with the county to keep it aware of local desires toward county-owned land in the Township.
C. 
Commercial land use goals. To encourage commercial uses that meet regional needs. Objectives:
(1) 
Encourage the development of small-scale office and commercial structures that meet local needs.
(2) 
To protect future expansion of existing business areas.
(3) 
To encourage future expansion in existing business areas.
D. 
Industrial land use goals:
(1) 
Promote industrial development in the Iron Bridge Corporate Park.
(2) 
Encourage the adaptive reuse of old industrial facilities that is appropriate to the existing structure and the surrounding area.
E. 
Residential land use goals:
(1) 
Promote orderly and diversified residential development that meets local needs and regional growth areas.
(2) 
Preserve and protect residential properties in residential districts by permitting the appropriate adjacent land uses.
(3) 
Continue to study local needs and regional demands to promote development that creates housing which is responsive to these factors.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.