This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "West Whiteland Township Zoning Ordinance of 1998."
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.
(b)
Surface water flow and quality.
(c)
Groundwater quality and quantity.
(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.
(3) Social resources protection.
(a)
Sustain the integrity and stability of existing
residential neighborhoods.
(b)
Accommodate appropriate institutions to address
the social and cultural needs of the Township populace.
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.
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.