The official title of this chapter is the "Potter Township Zoning Ordinance, Beaver County, Pennsylvania."

This chapter shall become effective 10 days after final passage by the Board of Supervisors.

No structure shall be located, erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, converted, or enlarged; nor shall any structure or land be used or be designed to be used, except in full compliance with all the provisions of this chapter and after the lawful issuance of all permits and certificates required by this chapter.

The provisions of this chapter shall be severable; and if any of its provisions shall be unconstitutional, the decision so holding shall not be construed to affect the validity of any of the remaining provisions of this chapter. It is hereby declared as the legislative intent that this chapter would have been adopted had such unconstitutional provisions not been included therein.

All ordinances or parts thereof conflicting herewith shall be and the same are hereby repealed, specifically, Ordinance 24 of March 28, 1972, and all amendments thereto.

This chapter is adopted pursuant to the powers granted to the Township by Article VII of this chapter and Section 601 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.[1] Pursuant to the authority contained in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code and for the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals or the general welfare, the Board of Supervisors of Potter Township is hereby empowered to regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, and size of the buildings and other structures; their construction, alteration, extension, repair, maintenance and all facilities and services in or about such buildings and structures; the percentage of the lot that may be occupied; the size of yards, courts and other open spaces; the density of population; and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, agriculture or other purposes; and may also establish and maintain building lines and setback building lines upon any or all public streets.

The purpose and provisions of this chapter are those as set forth by Sections 603, 603.1, 604 and 605 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. The Board of Supervisors of the Township of Potter, County of Beaver and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, does hereby ordain that these regulations are made in accordance with the Potter Township Comprehensive Plan and designed to lessen congestion in the streets, to secure safety from fire, panic, and other dangers, to promote health and the general welfare, to provide adequate light and air, to prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue concentration of population, and to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements. Such regulations shall be made with reasonable consideration, among other things, to the character of the district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses, and with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the Township. This chapter is exclusive zoning in that no use may be operated in a district unless it is specifically listed as a use by right for that district.

In accordance with Section 606 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, the following lists the community development objectives of this chapter:

In order to avail itself of the powers conferred by this chapter, the Board of Supervisors shall appoint a Commission of not less than three nor more than nine citizens, to be known as the "Planning Commission of Potter Township," to recommend the boundaries of the various zoning districts and appropriate regulations to be enforced therein. Such Commission shall possess all of the duties and responsibilities set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.