Vernon Township City Zoning Code
PART 1
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
§ 27-101 Title and Authority.
[Ord. 2009-01, 4/2/2009, § 101]
1.
This chapter and attached map[1] shall be known as, and may be cited as the "Vernon Township Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of 2009," in accordance with and exercising the authority of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Code, to:
A.
Regulate the location and use of buildings, structures and land for residence, agriculture, commerce, industry, and other purposes.
B.
Control the minimum size of properties and the height, number of stories, and placement of buildings and other structures.
C.
Divide the Township into districts of such size, shape and area as may be deemed best suited to serve the needs of all the residents and property owners.
D.
Establish procedures for the administration, enforcement and amendment of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The map is on file in the Township offices.
§ 27-102 Purpose.
[Ord. 2009-01, 4/2/2009, § 102]
1.
The regulations and restrictions of this chapter are deemed necessary in order to:
A.
Promote the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare.
B.
Secure safety from fire, flood, mudslide, panic, and other dangers and to provide adequate open spaces for light, air and amenity.
C.
Conserve and stabilize property values through the most appropriate uses of land in relation to one another.
D.
Preserve forests, agricultural lands, floodplain areas, and recreation lands from conflict with urban development.
E.
Facilitate the economic provision of adequate transportation, water supply, sewage disposal, public schools, parks, and other public requirements.
F.
Prevent overcrowding or improper development of land, blighting conditions and congestion in travel and transportation.
G.
Encourage orderly, coordinated, and compatible development and growth.
§ 27-103 Community Development Objectives.
[Ord. 2009-01, 4/2/2009, § 103]
1.
In addition to the general purpose behind adoption of this chapter as noted in § 27-102, the following specific community development goals and objectives identified in the Central Crawford Region Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan have been followed in developing the regulations and controls of this chapter:
A.
Channel growth into areas where utilities and roads can accommodate it and where it is a natural extension of existing development.
B.
Require development to respect natural amenities and conditions of the land.
C.
Allow for a variety of housing types and densities in relation to the capacity of streets and utilities and a natural progression outward from higher to lower densities.
D.
Limit major retail commercial expansion to the Route 6/322 corridor and part of the Route 19 frontage.
E.
Provide areas for specialized business activities in appropriate locations that are best suited for them.
F.
Encourage generation of new jobs in office, service, and light manufacturing in well-planned settings.
G.
Regulate roadside access, signage and landscaping in commercial and business areas.
H.
Use nonresidential development to buffer the airport and respect flight patterns in the airport's vicinity.
I.
Development of a diverse light industrial sector that will complement the region's existing and emerging industrial base and provide additional regional competitiveness.
J.
Where possible, to emphasize development of industrial and light industrial concerns in relative proximity to one another and to maximize existing infrastructure and minimize deleterious effects on existing natural resources and development.
§ 27-104 Interpretation.
[Ord. 2009-01, 4/2/2009, § 104]
The regulations contained in this chapter shall be held to be the minimum regulations required to uphold the public health, safety, morals and general welfare.
§ 27-105 Conflict.
[Ord. 2009-01, 4/2/2009, § 105]
Where conflicts exist between this chapter and other regulations of the Township, or of a higher level of government, or with legal restrictive covenants applied by landowners to the development of their property, the ordinance, regulation or covenant establishing the higher standards shall prevail. All ordinances or parts thereof in conflict with this chapter, inconsistent with its provisions or less restrictive, are hereby repealed to the extent necessary to give this chapter full force and effect.
§ 27-106 Municipal Liability.
[Ord. 2009-01, 4/2/2009, § 106]
The grant of a zoning permit in any zone district shall not constitute a representation, guarantee or warranty of any kind by the Township or by any official or employee of the practicality or safety of the use, building or structure covered by the permit and shall create no liability upon the Township, its officials or employees.
§ 27-107 Continuity.
[Ord. 2009-01, 4/2/2009, § 107]
1.
The provisions of this chapter, as far as they are common to those zoning regulations in force immediately prior to the enactment of this chapter, are intended as a continuation of such prior regulations and not as new enactments. Such parts of the prior regulations that are omitted from this chapter shall be deemed as abrogated.
2.
The adoption of this chapter does not make legitimate development activity in the Township illegal under provisions of the prior regulations nor does it annul any litigation currently being pursued or that may be pursued in the future against such illegal activity.