Concentrate development within the designated growth area (DGA) in order to preserve important open space, farmland and natural resources in the Farming Zoning District;

Ensure that existing and future populations are afforded a high level of public services;

Assure that centralized water and sewer availability is afforded to all residents within the DGA, while protecting groundwater resources and recharge areas within the Farming Zoning District;

Promote and support a transportation infrastructure that will facilitate the movement of traffic, bicycles and pedestrians through and within West Manheim Township;

Stimulate more investment of private funds in the rehabilitation and reuse of existing properties and in the responsible development of vacant land within the DGA;

Diversify employment opportunities within the Township's DGA to provide for all types of workers;

Accommodate a reasonable rate of housing development as projected in the West Manheim Township Comprehensive Plan in consideration with maintaining safe and affordable housing opportunities for all age and income groups;

Protect the special rural character of the Township while providing appropriate areas for nonresidential growth to occur;

Limit the effect of development on adjacent property owners to maintain the rural character of the community;

Ensure the important resources and features of the Township are preserved and enhanced; and

Preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering topography, soil type and classification, and present use.

In interpreting and applying the regulations and requirements of this chapter, the regulations and requirements shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of health, safety, and the general welfare of the Township and its citizens.

Where, due to inherent ambiguity, vagueness or lack of clarity in the language of this chapter, a reasonable doubt exists as to the meaning of any regulation or requirement upon the use of land, said doubt shall be resolved in favor of the property owner and against any implied extension of a restriction.

Except to the extent that those regulations of mineral extraction by local ordinances and enactments have heretofore been superseded and preempted by the Act of May 31, 1945 (P.L. 1198, No. 418), known as the "Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act,"[1] the Act of December 19, 1984 (P.L. 1093, No. 219), known as the "Noncoal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act,"[2] and the Act of December 19, 1984 (P.L. 1140, No. 223), known as the "Oil and Gas Act,"[3] and to the extent that the subsidence impacts of coal extraction are regulated by the Act of April 27, 1966 (1st Sp. Sess., P.L. 31, No. 1), known as the "Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act,"[4] and that regulation of activities related to commercial agricultural production would exceed the requirements imposed under the Act of July 6, 2005 (P.L. 112, No. 38), known as the "Nutrient Management and Odor Management Act,"[5] regardless of whether any agricultural operation within the area to be affected by this chapter would be a concentrated animal operation as defined by the Nutrient Management and Odor Management Act, the Act of June 30, 1981 (P.L. 128, No. 43), known as the "Agricultural Area Security Law,"[6] or the Act of June 10, 1982 (P.L. 454, No. 133), entitled "An Act Protecting Agricultural Operations from Nuisance Suits and Ordinances Under Certain Circumstances,"[7] or that regulation of other activities are preempted by other federal or state laws, where a regulation or requirement of this chapter is found to conflict with a regulation or requirement of Chapter 235, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the Township of West Manheim, building, fire, safety or health ordinance or code of West Manheim Township or law, rule or regulation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (hereinafter the "commonwealth"), the provisions which establish the higher standard for the promotion and protection of the health and safety of the people shall prevail.[8]

It is not intended by this chapter to interfere with or abrogate or annul any permits or approvals previously issued by the Township which are in conflict with any provisions of this chapter nor is it intended by this chapter to interfere with or abrogate or annul any easements, covenants, use or building restrictions or other private agreements between parties; provided, however, that where this chapter imposes a greater restriction the provisions of this chapter shall control.