The Punxsutawney Borough Council identifies the following legislative
findings with respect to land use, density of population, location
and function of roads, and other community facilities and utilities,
and other factors that the Council believes relevant in establishing
community development objectives for the future development of the
Borough. It is the purpose of this chapter to reflect the objectives
of the Borough, to establish such other objectives as may be deemed
necessary, and to provide the means and regulations whereby these
objectives may be attained. The overall approach of this chapter is
to ensure orderly, appropriate and compatible growth that will result
in well-planned and efficient development and redevelopment of Punxsutawney
Borough.
A. Provide for an adequate supply, balance and location of land uses
appropriate for the infrastructure and community needs of the Borough
but flexible enough to sustain orderly development.
B. Encourage and reinforce renewal activities, mixed uses and traditional
neighborhood development, preservation and reuse of historic structures
and in-fill development while preserving certain community physical,
environmental and historic assets.
C. Encourage development within, adjacent and comparable to existing
development that avoids linear development, thereby enabling the most-efficient
and -economic provision of basic community facilities and public utilities;
encourage reuse and rehabilitation of presently vacant structures;
and prioritize the reuse of existing vacant land served by existing
infrastructure.
D. Protect the integrity of older dwelling units and other historic
buildings.
E. Protect the integrity of a mixed commercial/residential central business
district and abutting East Mahoning Street business area by providing
for uses and dimensional requirements that reinforce them.
F. Provide for appropriate highway-oriented commercial development in
areas where vehicle access is facilitated.
G. Minimize the potential for conflict between traditional residential
areas and neighborhoods and commercial/industrial development that
exists within the Borough.
H. Encourage well-planned future in-fill development and new development
of presently vacant parcels.
I. Encourage development in concert with natural resource features and
environmentally sensitive land.
J. Provide adequate community facilities and community infrastructure,
ensuring a safe, sanitary and attractive environment for community
life and growth.
K. Encourage the redevelopment of downtown business areas and vacant
industrial sites/facilities in the community.
L. Encourage "growth center," clustered and nonlinear development and
mixed-use development.
M. Preserve viewsheds, streams and creeks, one-hundred-year floodplains
and wetland areas, and areas identified as being of local and regional
significance, including trails.