The zoning districts established by this chapter
are designed to guide future use of land in the Township by encouraging
the development of desirable residential, commercial and industrial
areas, with appropriate groupings of compatible and related uses,
to the end of promoting and protecting the public health, safety,
comfort, prosperity and other aspects of the general welfare.
A. To achieve this end, lawful existing uses which would
be prohibited or restricted under the terms of this chapter or future
amendments and which do not conform to the character and regulations
of the zoning district in which they are located shall be subject
to certain limitations. The regulations set forth are intended to
provide a gradual remedy for the undesirable conditions resulting
from indiscriminate mixing of uses and to afford a means whereby nonconforming
uses can be gradually eliminated and reestablished in more suitable
locations within the Township.
B. Similarly, buildings or other structures which do
not comply with one or more of the applicable district requirements
as to lot width, minimum lot area and yard spaces, lot coverages or
building height are deemed to be nonconforming.
C. Nonconforming uses and structures will be generally
permitted to remain. The purpose of regulating them is to restrict
further investment in uses or structures which are inappropriate to
their locations.
D. To avoid undue hardship, nothing in this chapter shall
be deemed to require a change in plans, construction or the intended
use of any building on which actual construction was lawfully begun
prior to the effective date or amendment of this chapter and on which
actual building construction has been diligently carried on.
The use of any nonconforming lots of record
shall be controlled by the terms of the Zoning Hearing Board, provided
that the yard dimensions and other requirements of any lot not involving
area or width, or both, shall conform to the regulations for the district
in which such lot is located unless otherwise specifically authorized
as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board and that in any
case a building shall comply with the yard and other requirements
of the district to the maximum extent practicable.