An Ordinance regulating the location, height, volume, erection, construction, alteration, razing and size of structures; the percentage of lot which may be occupied, the size of yards, courts, and other open spaces; the density and distribution of population; the intensity of use of land or bodies of water for trade, industry, residence, recreation, public activities or other purposes, and the uses of land for agriculture, water supply, conservation, soil conservation, forestry, significant wildlife and aquatic habitat, or other purposes; and providing for the administration, enforcement, and amendment of this Ordinance in accordance with the provisions of the “Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code” as amended.

(Ord. passed 10-2-2007, § 100)

   This Ordinance shall be known as and may be cited as the “Springfield Township Zoning Ordinance” of 2007.

(Ord. passed 10-2-2007, § 101)

   In addition to serving the purposes that are authorized for a zoning ordinance in the State Municipalities Planning Code and the goals and objectives of the Township Comprehensive Plan, which are hereby included by reference, the purpose of this Ordinance is to promote, protect and facilitate the public health, safety, and the general welfare by:

      A.   Providing standards to control the amount of open space and impervious surfaces within a development; to control the intensity of development in areas of sensitive natural resources or natural features in order to reduce or eliminate adverse environmental impacts; to protect the people’s right to clean air, pure water, and the natural scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of the environment; and to protect natural resources which are part of the ecological system to which we are all bound, and therefore are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come, and must be protected to insure the health, safety, and welfare of all the people.

      B.   Giving effect to the community objectives, policies and proposals of the Springfield Township Comprehensive Plan as amended and incorporated therein as the comprehensive plan required by § 606 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code as amended.

      C.   Securing safety from fire, panic, flood, and other dangers.

      D.   Providing adequate light and air.

      E.   Controlling and regulating the growth of the area, concentrating development in areas where adequate water, sewage, roads and schools can be provided and limiting development in areas where these facilities cannot be provided.

      F.   Provide standards for all types of dwelling units so that all the people may have access to decent, sound, and sanitary housing; and to meet the goals of the Federal Housing Act of 1949.

      G.   Promoting such distribution of population and such classification of land uses and distribution of land development and utilization as will tend to facilitate and conserve adequate provisions for transportation, water flow, water supply, drainage, sanitation, schools, parks, and other public facilities; educational opportunities, recreation, soil fertility, and food supply.

      H.   Lessening the danger and congestion of traffic on the roads and highways and reducing excessive numbers of roads.

      I.   Protecting the tax base.

      J.   Securing economy in governmental expenditures.

      K.   Fostering agricultural and other industries; to preserve prime agricultural and farmland considering topography, soil type and classification, and present use.

      L.   Protecting both urban and non-urban development through the use of a development district for urban uses and rural residential and resource protection districts for non-urban development.

      M.   Providing for the use of land within the Township for residential housing of various dwelling types encompassing all basic forms of housing as described in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended.

      N.   Accommodating reasonable overall community growth including population and employment growth, and opportunities for development of a variety of residential dwelling types and nonresidential uses.

(Ord. passed 10-2-2007, § 102)

   In interpreting and applying the provisions of this Ordinance, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public, health, safety, comfort, convenience, and general welfare.

      A.   Whenever any regulations made under authority of this Ordinance require a greater width or size of yards, courts or other open spaces, or require a lower height of buildings, or smaller number of stories, or require a greater percentage of lot to be left unoccupied, or impose other higher standards than are required in or under any other statute, the provisions of the regulations made under authority of this Ordinance shall govern.

      B.   Whenever the provisions of any other statute require a greater width of size of yards, courts or other open spaces, or require a greater percentage of lot to be left unoccupied, or impose other higher standards than are required by and regulations made under authority of this Ordinance, the provisions of such statute shall govern.

      C.   This Ordinance does not repeal, abrogate, annul or in any way impair or interfere with existing provisions of other laws or ordinances, except those specifically or impliedly repealed by this Ordinance, or any private restrictions placed upon property by covenant, deed or other private agreement unless repugnant hereto.

      D.   Provisions in the Springfield Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance providing for varying design standards shall not be considered to be in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance.

(Ord. passed 10-2-2007, § 103)