Municipality of Monroeville, PA General Provisions

The community development objectives which are the basis for the provisions of this chapter are set forth in the Comprehensive Plan as adopted and amended by the governing body. In addition to the Comprehensive Plan, the following is a supplementary statement of the purpose and intent of the Zoning Ordinance. The objectives are adopted as a statement of legislative findings and may be used in evaluating any proposed additions or deletions to the Zoning Ordinance.

The general objective for the development of Monroeville is to provide a pleasant, attractive, healthy, safe and convenient environment for living, working, education, shopping and recreation. This objective shall be pursued by the creation and implementation of land use plans to:

(1)

Preserve and improve the natural environment.

(2)

Increase property values, employment opportunities and the economic base of the community.

(3)

Provide safe, adequate and attractive housing.

(4)

Provide the necessary infrastructure of utilities and vehicular and pedestrian transportation arteries.

(5)

Provide recreational and community facilities.

The preservation and improvement of the environment shall be pursued by:

(1)

The elimination of visual and physical blight, such as overhead utility lines, concentrations of signs of excessive size and proximity, large expanses of unbroken pavement and dilapidated structures.

(2)

The preservation of natural topography and wooded slopelands, including the limiting of hillside development beyond a reasonable gradient and the control of floodplains and watersheds.

(3)

The reclamation of derelict land.

(4)

The Municipal acquisition of and the promotion of dedication of natural open space and wooded slopeland in order to link the existing and proposed park sites and neighborhoods and to prevent ecological problems resulting from extensive cut and fill necessary to develop wooded slopelands.

The increase of property values, employment opportunities and the economic base of the community shall be pursued by:

(1)

The promotion of balanced economic growth and employment opportunities.

(2)

The concentration of commercial and industrial uses in the areas where streets and utilities can provide the necessary services and where conflicts with other uses can be minimized through site design and transitional provisions.

(3)

The implementation of the other objectives set forth herein.

The provision of safe, adequate and attractive housing for the entire population of the community shall be pursued by:

(1)

The provision of a wide range of housing density alternatives and a mix of housing types, correlating residential density and housing type with topography, environmental conditions and the capacity of and distance from existing and proposed utilities, streets and community facilities.

(2)

The removal of dilapidated housing, the rehabilitation of deteriorating housing, the maintenance of sound housing and the development of new housing.

(3)

The promotion of an attractive residential environment through the implementation of the other objectives set forth herein.

The prevention of loss of life, disruption of commerce and governmental services, unnecessary expenditure of public funds for flood protection and relief and the related impairment of the tax base shall be pursued by:

(1)

Regulation of uses and development in floodplains which, acting alone or in combination with other uses and development, may cause unacceptable increases in flood heights, velocities and frequencies.

(2)

Restricting and prohibiting certain uses, activities and development from locating within areas subject to flooding.

(3)

Requiring all those uses, activities and developments that occur in floodplains to be protected and floodproofed against flooding and flood damage.

(4)

Protecting individuals from buying lands and structures which are unsuited for intended purposes because of flood hazards.

The provision of the necessary infrastructure of utilities and transportation arteries shall be pursued by:

(1)

The extension of the Municipal improvements of waterlines, storm and sanitary sewers and roads and their improvement where economically feasible to guide and promote development.

(2)

The encouragement of public utilities to improve and extend services consistent with the objectives set forth herein.

(3)

Traffic planning and control which will provide safe, rapid and convenient movement of people and goods within and through the Municipality, with a separation of through and local traffic, provision for pedestrians and minimal disruption of existing and proposed development patterns and community integrity.

The provision of recreational and community facilities shall be pursued by:

(1)

The creation of outdoor and indoor recreational facilities to accommodate the existing and future population.

(2)

The promotion of schools and parks in close proximity to decrease duplication of services and to provide the greatest value for public expenditures.

(3)

The promotion of acquisition or dedication of natural open space for park and recreational purposes.

(4)

The provision of residential areas with adequate commercial, governmental, recreational and educational facilities.

(5)

The preservation of historical landmarks.

The creation and implementation of land use plans shall seek to achieve the foregoing objectives and to:

(1)

Achieve the purpose for which each zoning district is intended, as stated in each Article of this chapter.

(2)

Avoid incompatible land use if possible and protect against the detrimental effect of incompatible land uses through planting, open space and natural breaks in topography.

(3)

Concentrate development where possible to prevent sprawl, conserve open space and make full use of utilities and services.

(4)

Provide site plan control.