This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "West Whiteland Township Zoning Ordinance of 1998."
A.
This chapter is enacted to promote, protect and facilitate
the public health, safety, morals and general welfare through coordinated
and practical community development, with strong emphasis on the following:
(1)
Improvement and/or maintenance of aesthetic quality.
(2)
Protection of viewshed and other environmental resources.
(3)
Protection of ground- and surface water resources
and wetlands.
(4)
Provision of reasonable population density.
(5)
Provision of light, air, open space and recreation.
(6)
Provision for police and fire protection.
(7)
Provision of vehicle parking and loading space.
(8)
Prevention of travel and transportation congestion.
(9)
Protection against loss of health, life or property
from fire, flood or other dangers.
(10)
Provision of adequate water and sewer facilities.
(11)
Preservation of historic and archaeological
resources.
B.
This chapter is enacted in accordance with an overall
program and with consideration for the character of the Township,
its various parts, and the suitability of the various parts for particular
uses and structures.
This chapter is enacted in accordance with the
spirit and intent of the Township Comprehensive Plan, which has been
formulated with a view toward the following objectives:
A.
Insure that future uses of land are compatible with
the existing character, values and patterns of activity within the
Township and adjacent areas and that location, intensity, mix and
timing of development clearly reflect the relative suitability of
areas within the Township for such development.
(1)
To maintain and improve existing districts and neighborhoods
so as to ensure their continuing suitability for residential, commercial,
industrial, recreational and institutional use and their attractiveness
for infill development.
(2)
To accommodate current, impending and prospective
commercial and residential land uses in a manner that controls potentially
detrimental effects on other areas of the Township.
(3)
To conserve remaining open space areas of the Township.
(4)
To provide appropriate sites for industry, offices,
retail sales and services in the community.
(5)
To allow for a range of housing types and sizes to
respond to changing housing needs, to provide housing for various
stages of the life cycle and for various income levels.
(6)
Limit unplanned scatteration, or the establishment
of new concentrated development nodes and avoid linear/sprawl development.
B.
Protect the existing resources and values of the community
against undesirable impacts of change, remedy current threats to their
integrity, enhance their usefulness and accessibility to Township
residents and landowners.
(1)
Natural resources protection.
(a)
Soil and subsoil.
(b)
Surface water flow and quality.
(c)
Groundwater quality and quantity.
(d)
Air quality.
(e)
Open space/aesthetics.
(f)
Vegetation.
(g)
Wildlife.
(h)
Access to incident solar energy.
(i)
Provision of a safe, reliable and adequate water
supply for domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial use.
(2)
Physical resources protection.
(a)
Historical, archaeological and cultural sites.
(b)
Assure the continued viability, wherever possible,
of important elements of the Township's existing circulation network,
including the rail lines, trails for walking, horseback riding and
bicycling and roads valued for their scenic or historic qualities
or as critical highway links.
C.
Provide community services and facilities to meet
the needs of residents, landowners, entrepreneurs, and, as appropriate,
the larger region, and to accommodate future development as called
for in the Township Comprehensive Plan, consistent with the Township's
statutory and fiscal capabilities. Community services and facilities
include, but are not limited to, police and fire protection, roads,
pedestrian and bicycle circulation, water supply, stormwater management,
sewer facilities, open space and recreation.
A.
In the interpretation and application of the provisions
of this chapter, the provisions shall be held to be the minimum requirement
for the promotion of the purposes of this chapter.
B.
From and after the effective date of this chapter, use, construction and development of all land, every building or portion thereof, will be subject to the regulations contained herein. The use of all land, every building or portion thereof which is to be erected, altered or relocated hereafter in West Whiteland Township shall be in conformance with this chapter. Any lawfully existing buildings, land or uses not in conformity with the regulations herein shall be considered nonconforming but may be continued or changed subject to regulations herein regarding nonconformities (Article XVIII).
It is not intended by this chapter to repeal,
abrogate, annul or interfere with any existing ordinance or enactment,
or with any rule, regulation or permit adopted or issued thereunder,
except insofar as the same may be inconsistent or in conflict with
any of the provisions of this chapter; provided, that, buildings or
land, upon the height and bulk of buildings, or prescribes larger
open spaces than are required by the provisions of such ordinance,
enactment, rule, regulation or permit, then the provisions of this
chapter shall control.
A.
Classes of districts. For the purpose of this chapter,
the Township is hereby divided into districts which shall be designated
as follows:
[Amended 6-29-2011 by Ord. No. 389; 12-10-2014 by Ord. No. 419; 9-9-2015 by Ord. No. 426]
|
Abbreviation
|
Name of District
| |
|---|---|---|
|
R-1
|
Residential District
| |
|
R-2
|
Residential District
| |
|
R-3
|
Residential District
| |
|
R-4
|
Residential District
| |
|
TC
|
Town Center Mixed Use District
| |
|
NC
|
Neighborhood Commercial District
| |
|
O/L
|
Office/Laboratory District
| |
|
O/R
|
Office/Residential District
| |
|
O/C
|
Office/Commercial District
| |
|
I-1
|
Limited Industrial District
| |
|
I-2
|
General Industrial District
| |
|
IN
|
Institutional District
| |
|
UDA
|
Unified Development Area
| |
|
FP
|
Floodplain Conservation
| |
|
SS
|
Steep Slope Conservation
| |
|
C
|
Carbonate Area
| |
|
HP
|
Historic Preservation District
| |
|
Airport Overlay District
| ||
|
RTO
|
Rail Transit Overlay
|
B.
Historical sites. In addition to the above-designated
districts, this chapter also recognizes historic sites inventoried
by the West Whiteland Township Historical Commission and adopted by
the Board of Supervisors.
C.
Zoning Map. The location and boundaries of said districts
shall be shown upon the Zoning Map, which, together with all explanatory
matter thereon, is attached to and is declared to be a part of this
chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: A copy of the Zoning Map is included as an attachment to this chapter. The Official Zoning Map is on file at the Township offices.
D.
District boundary lines. The district boundary lines
shall be as shown on the Zoning Map. The boundaries, unless otherwise
indicated, are intended to coincide with lot lines, center lines of
streets and alleys, rights-of-way, floodplains and of beds of streams
and watercourses, the corporate boundary to the Township or such lines
extended or lines parallel thereto, existing at time of passage of
this chapter. In the event of dispute about the location of a district
boundary line, the Zoning Officer shall investigate and render a decision
to be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors and appeals incident to
such a decision shall be heard by the Zoning Hearing Board.
[Amended 3-10-2004 by Ord. No. 310]
