[Ord. 970, 5/16/2007, § 101]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Borough
of Forest Hills Zoning Ordinance" and the district map shall be known
as the "Official Borough of Forest Hills Zoning District Map."
[Ord. 970, 5/16/2007, § 102]
This chapter is adopted by virtue of the authority granted to
the Borough by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., as
amended.
[Ord. 970, 5/16/2007, § 103]
1.
Wherever the regulations within this chapter are at variance with
other lawfully adopted rules, regulations, ordinances, restrictions
or covenants, those which impose the most restrictive requirements
shall govern.
2.
No structure or use which was not lawfully existing at the time of
the adoption of this chapter shall become or be made lawful solely
by the reason of the adoption of this chapter; and to the extent that,
and in any respect that, said unlawful structure or use is in conflict
with the requirements of the chapter, said structure remains unlawful
hereunder.
3.
Regardless of any other provision of this chapter, no land shall
be used and no structure erected or maintained in violation of any
state or federal environmental protection law or regulation.
[Ord. 970, 5/16/2007, § 104]
The fundamental purposes of this chapter are to promote the
safety, health, convenience and general welfare; to encourage the
most appropriate use of land throughout the Borough; to conserve and
stabilize the value of property; to prevent overcrowding of land and
buildings; to avoid undue concentration of population; to lessened
congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic and other
dangers; to provide adequate open spaces for light and air; to facilitate
adequate provision of streets and highways, water, sewerage, drainage
and other public facilities; to conserve life, property and natural
resources; and to conserve the expenditure of funds earmarked for
public improvement.
[Ord. 970, 5/16/2007, § 106]
1.
The goals and objectives of the 2003 Borough of Forest Hills Comprehensive
Plan are hereby incorporated by reference. The general community development
objectives on which this chapter is based are:
A.
Expand the Borough's employment opportunities by attracting a variety
of new local and regional businesses/uses.
B.
Develop civic spaces that would serve as "community nodes," including
parks, plazas, trails and public squares.
C.
Improve the visual appeal of Ardmore Boulevard and provide amenities
that will draw people to shop in the Borough's commercial district.
D.
Retain the current mix of housing types and the character of existing
residential neighborhoods and leverage the "market" appeal of the
Borough's quality/diverse housing stock.
E.
Build on the Borough's locational advantages related to major transportation
corridors, regional employment centers and regional amenities.
F.
Maintain the community's parks, parklets, sports fields/courts, swimming
pool and open space areas (steep hillsides).
G.
Establish alternative pedestrian/bicycle connections between the
residential and nonresidential districts.
H.
Market the current community-wide events to enhance civic pride.
[Ord. 970, 5/16/2007, § 107]
No structure shall be located, erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, altered, converted or enlarged; nor shall any structure or land be used or 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 Part 13 of this chapter.
[Added by Ord. 1056, 6/15/2016]
This chapter shall not apply to any building of the Borough
or extension thereof, or to the use of any premises by the Borough,
if the Borough Council shall decide, during a public meeting, that
such building or extension thereof, or such use of any premises, is
reasonably necessary for the convenience or welfare of the public.
