[Amended 9-29-2008 by Ord. No. 125; 9-26-2011 by Ord. No. 143; 2-12-2018 by Ord. No. 164]
The Township is hereby divided into the following zones or districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map and Official Overlay Zoning Map which, together with all explanatory information thereon, are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter:
RC
Rural Conservation
RAL
Residential Agricultural, Low-Density
RAM
Residential Agricultural, Moderate-Density
R-1
Residential
R-2
Residential
R-3M
Residential, Multifamily
R-4
Residential, PRD
R-5B
Residential, Business
C
Commercial
B
Business
I
Industrial
GT
Gateway Transition District
Airport Hazard Overlay
Route 228 Overlay
Personal Services Overlay
[1]
Editor's Note: The Official Zoning Map and Official Overlay Zoning Map are included as attachments to this chapter.
A. 
The Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Chairman of the Board of Township Supervisors, attested by the Township Secretary and shall bear the Seal of the Township under the following words:
"This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Map of Adams Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, adopted this ______ day of ________________, ________."
B. 
The Official Overlay Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Chairman of the Board of Township Supervisors, attested by the Township Secretary and shall bear the Seal of the Township under the following words:
"This is to certify that this is the Official Overlay Zoning Map of Adams Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, adopted this ______ day of ________________, ________."
No changes of any nature shall be made on the Official Zoning Map or Official Overlay Zoning Map or information shown thereon except in conformity with the procedures set forth in § 192-91 of this chapter. Any unauthorized revision of whatever kind by any person shall be considered a violation of this chapter.
The Official Zoning Map and Official Overlay Zoning Map shall be located in the Township offices and shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land in the Township.
A. 
Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map or the Official Overlay Zoning Map, the following rules shall apply:
(1) 
Boundaries indicated as appearing to follow the center lines of streets or highways shall be construed as following such center lines;
(2) 
Boundaries indicated as appearing to follow recorded lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines;
(3) 
Boundaries indicated as appearing to follow Township jurisdictional lines shall be construed as following such Township jurisdictional lines;
(4) 
Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed as midway between the main tracks;
(5) 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center lines of streams or other bodies of water shall be construed as moving with the actual body of water and following the center line; and
(6) 
Boundaries whose location cannot be determined by any of the above tests and are not dimensioned on the Official Zoning Map or the Official Overlay Zoning Map may be measured using the scale of the Official Zoning Map or the Official Overlay Zoning Map.
B. 
When there is disagreement over the location of district boundaries, a decision on the correct location shall be rendered by the Code Enforcement Officer with appeal from this decision made to the Zoning Hearing Board.
All land which may hereafter be annexed by the Township shall be placed in the RC Rural Conservation Zoning District until the Planning Commission has made a thorough study of the newly annexed area, reported its recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and the Board has adopted a final zoning district classification.
A. 
The regulations within each zoning district or overlay zoning district shall apply uniformly to every proposed development therein, whether new construction, expansion or renovation of a property.
B. 
No building or land, except for legally nonconforming lots, uses and structures, shall be used, occupied, or maintained and no building or part thereof shall be erected, moved, altered, or maintained unless in conformity with the regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located, unless the Zoning Hearing Board grants appropriate relief.
C. 
Unless otherwise expressly permitted in the applicable zoning district, no part of a yard or other open space or off-street parking or loading space required adjacent to or in connection with any building for compliance with this chapter shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.
D. 
No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this chapter shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth herein. Yards or lots created after the effective date of this chapter shall meet at least the minimum requirements established by this chapter.
E. 
Uses allowed by right. Within each zoning district, lands, buildings, and structures shall be used, and buildings and structures shall be erected, altered or enlarged only for any of the uses permitted by right in the zoning district or overlay zoning district, or after approval for a conditional use. The principal permitted uses (allowed by right), accessory uses, and conditional uses for each zone district are listed in discrete sections established for each zoning district. No use listed in one zoning district is allowed in a second or subsequently established district unless listed as a permitted, accessory, or conditional use in that second or subsequent district.
F. 
Uses allowed in overlay zones. Within each overlay zone, a select list of uses is provided. Structures shall be used, and buildings and structures shall be erected, altered, enlarged only for any of the uses permitted by right in the overlay zone district.
G. 
Development models. In certain residential zoning districts, one or more preferred development models are included as conditional uses. These models shall be reviewed and approved as conditional uses in compliance with the provisions of Article VII and with the applicable design criteria and site standards enumerated in Appendix E, Development Models Design Manual, attached to this chapter. All development models shall be designed and constructed as per the provisions of Appendix E.[1]
[Amended 9-29-2008 by Ord. No. 125]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix E is included at the end of this chapter.
H. 
Uses not listed. When a land use proposed by a property owner is not listed as a permitted use, a conditional use or a use by special exception in any of the established zoning districts or overlay zoning districts, the Code Enforcement Officer shall, at the request of the owner, refer such proposed land use to the Zoning Hearing Board following denial of the zoning permit. The proposed use shall be reviewed as a request for a special exception. The Zoning Hearing Board shall apply the general standards outlined in Article VIII, § 192-48B, to all such requests.