[Amended 7-14-1994 by Ord. No. 94-10]
A. The purposes of this chapter are to establish a pattern
for land use based on the land use element of the State, County and
Township Master Plans and to guide appropriate and orderly development
that will promote the public health, safety, morals and general welfare.
B. This chapter is intended to:
(1) Regulate the use of land within zoning districts;
(2) Secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other disasters;
(3) Provide for adequate light, air and open space;
(4) Limit and restrict buildings and structures to specified
districts according to their type and the nature and extent of their
use for trade, residence, open space or other purposes;
(5) Regulate the bulk, height, number of stories and size
of buildings and other structures;
(6) Avoid a conflict with neighboring municipalities,
the county and the state;
(7) Establish appropriate population densities and concentrations
contributing to the public health, well-being of persons, neighborhoods,
communities and regions and the preservation of the environment;
(8) Provide sufficient space for agricultural, residential,
recreational, commercial uses and open space;
(9) Encourage the location and design of transportation
routes that will promote the free flow of traffic while discouraging
the location of such facilities and routes which result in congestion
or blight;
(10) Promote a desirable visual environment.
(11) Promote the conservation of open space and valuable
natural resources and to prevent urban sprawl and degradation of the
environment through improper use of land;
(12) Provide procedures for planned developments that incorporate
the best features of design and relate the type, design and layout
of residential, commercial and recreational development to the particular
site;
(13) Encourage coordination of various public and private
procedures and activities shaping land development with a view of
lessening the cost of such development and to the more efficient use
of land; and
(14) Promote the conservation of energy through the use
of planning practices designed to reduce energy consumption and to
provide for maximum utilization of renewable energy resources.