This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Lower Pottsgrove Township Zoning Ordinance of 1973."
The effective date of this chapter shall be 10 days after the adoption of this chapter as required by law, and the use of all land and every building or portion of a building or structure erected, altered with respect to height and area, added to or relocated and every use within a building or use accessory thereto in any district shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that additions and/or extensions to buildings existing at the time of passage of this chapter shall be permitted without restriction as to height, area or setback in all cases where it is shown that the original plans under which the existing buildings were erected definitely provided for such future additions and/or extensions.
This chapter is enacted for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the Township and is designed to lessen congestion in the streets, roads and highways and to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of population; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewage, schools, parks and other public requirements; and to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the Township.
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare. Where the provisions of this chapter impose greater restrictions than those of any statute or ordinance or regulation, the provisions of this chapter shall be controlling. Where the provisions of any statute, other ordinance or regulation impose greater restrictions than this chapter, the provisions of such statute, other ordinance or regulation shall be controlling.
The Township of Lower Pottsgrove, which has an adopted Comprehensive Plan prepared in 1964 to guide the orderly growth and development of the Township, intends this chapter to implement the following community development objectives which have been approved by the Planning Commission and the Commissioners of Lower Pottsgrove Township.
A. 
Development goals. The following long-range goals for the development of Lower Pottsgrove Township are adopted:
(1) 
Land use.
(a) 
To maintain the predominantly residential character of the Township.
(b) 
To promote an aesthetic and orderly community appearance in all areas of the Township.
(c) 
To encourage more intensive development around the existing core areas in the Township.
(d) 
To provide a diversity of quality housing stock in the Township.
(e) 
To provide for a variety of land uses in a harmonious relationship within the Township.
(f) 
To preserve and enhance the natural features of the Township.
(2) 
Traffic and circulation.
(a) 
To achieve the most effective blending of traffic movement and its impact on surrounding land uses in the Township.
(b) 
To encourage the separation of local and regional traffic within the Township.
(3) 
Community facilities and services.
(a) 
To plan for the provision of needed community facilities and services in the Township.
(b) 
To provide a coordinated open space and recreation system in the Township.
(c) 
To foster an awareness and use of the available community facilities and services in the Pottstown area.
(4) 
Implementation and cooperation.
(a) 
To cooperate with surrounding communities in coping with social and physical problems which transcend Township boundaries.
(b) 
To adopt the planning implementation tools authorized by Act 247, the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
(c) 
To encourage the active participation of Township residents in the planning process and the operations of local government.
B. 
Development objectives. To implement the long-range goals the following development objectives are adopted:
(1) 
Land use.
(a) 
General.
[1] 
To locate intensive development (industrial, commercial and high-density residential uses) around the existing core areas of Sanatoga and Pottstown Borough.
[2] 
To stage growth and future development in accordance with the construction and extension of new and existing sewer and water systems and the provision of other essential community services and facilities.
[3] 
To ensure that new development is undertaken in harmony with the natural features of the Township, preserving the steep slopes, ridges, tree stands and the Sprogel's Run, Sanatoga Creek and Hartenstine Creek stream valleys and utilizing them as valuable and aesthetic community amenities.
[4] 
To eliminate existing deteriorating and blighted areas to provide convenience of service in a central location.
(b) 
Residential.
[1] 
To encourage innovative land development concepts such as cluster development and planned residential development which recognize the preservation of public open space and recreation areas while providing a planned and varied local residential environment.
[2] 
To ensure that Township codes and ordinances and any lack of essential municipal services do not impose a negative impact on the cost of new housing in the Township.
[3] 
To strive for the provision of a broad range of housing types that accurately reflect both local and regional housing needs and market trends as well as allowing for a full socioeconomic range of Township residents.
(c) 
Commercial and office.
[1] 
To provide compact, local retail centers within core areas to serve a surrounding neighborhood.
[2] 
To encourage office facilities with multiservice functions to develop in conjunction with commercial areas.
(d) 
Industrial.
[1] 
To expand the range of limited industrial uses in the Township that are representative of the diversified economic trends of the Pottstown area.
[2] 
To provide planned industrial parks in the Township.
[3] 
To encourage research and development facilities and centers in conjunction with industrial parks in the Township.
[4] 
To encourage the location of industrial uses along the Pottstown bypass where highway access is greatest.
[5] 
To ensure that industrial development in the Township provides sufficient off-street parking, buffer areas between adjacent residential uses and is nonpolluting in character.
(2) 
Traffic and circulation.
(a) 
To adopt a functional and design classification system for all roads located within and adjacent to the Township.
(b) 
To upgrade, realign and maintain local roads to eliminate safety hazards and improve traffic flow in the Township.
(c) 
To enforce the functional and design standards for all new roads constructed within the Township.
(3) 
Community facilities and services.
(a) 
To ensure that new development will be in harmony with the capability of the Pottsgrove School District to accommodate and educate additional pupils; the police force and Sanatoga and Ringing Rocks Fire Companies to protect the lives and property of local residents; and the Township Commissioners to provide necessary sanitation, road maintenance, government offices and other community facilities and services throughout the Township and for all of its residents.
(b) 
To plan for needed community facilities and services and their potential impact upon the Township and its residents.
(c) 
To preserve open space and to provide needed municipal parklands and recreation areas for the Township's residents.
(d) 
To increase local resident awareness of the location, purpose and service criteria of the medical and social service agencies and other community facilities within the Pottstown area.
(4) 
Implementation and cooperation.
(a) 
To establish intergovernmental cooperative agreements with Pottstown area municipalities, joint authorities or informal area planning councils to discuss items of common concern, implement regional community facility proposals and promote a more efficient provision of municipal services to local and area residents.
(b) 
To adopt, review and amend the most recent versions of the following planning implementation tools (and any others not specifically mentioned herein) to promote the general welfare of the community:
[Amended 12-3-2007 by Ord. No. 276]
[1] 
Zoning Ordinance.
[2] 
Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
[3] 
Official Map Ordinance.
[4] 
International Building Code.
[5] 
International Existing Building Code.
[6] 
International Fire Code.
[7] 
International Plumbing Code.
[8] 
NEC National Electrical Code.[1]
[1]
[Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[9] 
Capital Improvement Program.
[10] 
International Mechanical Code.
[11] 
ICC Residential Building Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings.
[12] 
International Fuel Gas Code.
[13] 
International Energy Conservation Code.
(c) 
To promote public awareness of the role of local residents within the planning process and the duties, responsibilities and purposes of the appointive bodies of Township government and to solicit citizen support for the work and activities of local and regional planning bodies.
It is not intended for 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, where this chapter imposes greater restrictions upon the use of buildings or land or 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.