A.
Title. This chapter establishes regulations and restrictions for
the location and use of lots, land, buildings and other structures,
the height, number of stories and bulk of buildings and structures,
the density of population, requirements for design and architectural
standards, off-street parking and similar accessory regulations, in
the Borough of Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania, and for said
purposes dividing the municipality into districts and prescribing
certain uniform regulations for each district and providing for administrative
enforcement and amendment of its provisions in accordance with the
Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended.
B.
Short Title. This chapter shall be known as, and may be cited as,
the Lewisburg Borough Zoning Ordinance of 2011.
Except as hereinafter provided, no building, structure, land
or parts thereof shall be used or occupied, erected, constructed or
assembled, moved, enlarged or structurally altered unless in compliance
with the provisions of this chapter or superseded by the Uniform Construction
Code or applicable state or federal building code standard.
This Zoning Ordinance, including the provisions, requirements
and districts as hereinafter set forth, is based upon and intended
to give effect to the policies and objectives set forth in the Lewisburg
Borough Comprehensive Plan, and is intended to promote health, safety
and the general welfare by achieving, among others, the following
purposes for development:
A.
To promote, protect and facilitate the proper density of population,
emergency management preparedness and operations, the provisions of
adequate light and air, access to direct sunlight, police protection,
vehicle parking and loading space, transportation, water, sewerage,
schools, recreational facilities, public grounds, and the provision
of a safe, reliable and adequate water supply for domestic, commercial,
agricultural and/or industrial use.
B.
To promote, protect and facilitate the preservation of the natural
features of the Borough, including wetlands, aquifers and floodplains.
C.
To prevent the overcrowding of land, blight, danger and congestion
in travel and transportation, loss of health, life or property from
fire, flood, panic or other dangers.
D.
To preserve the historic architectural character of the building
stock of the Borough of Lewisburg.
E.
To provide for the use of land within the Borough of Lewisburg for
residential housing of various dwelling types.
F.
To accommodate growth, both residential and commercial, in those
areas suitable for development and/or redevelopment.
G.
To lessen congestion on the roads and highways.
H.
To avoid population densities in excess of the natural and/or physical
capacity of the various sections of the Borough of Lewisburg.
I.
To encourage the most appropriate use of land, based upon the suitability
of the proposed development site, to accommodate a proposed use.
J.
To conserve the value of land and buildings.
The provisions of this chapter, in their interpretation and
application, shall be held to be minimum requirements adopted for
the promotion of the public health, safety, morals and/or general
welfare of the residents and inhabitants of the Borough of Lewisburg.
The basis for this chapter is the Lewisburg Borough Comprehensive
Plan, as adopted and/or amended by the Borough Council, and issues
arising during the meetings during the revision of this chapter. The
community development objectives enumerated to achieve local desired
goals and objectives are:
A.
General objectives.
(1)
Plan for change in the Borough of Lewisburg in a manner that will
protect, preserve, enhance and balance the economic, social, cultural
and aesthetic values desirable of an urban center in a rural setting.
(2)
Ensure safe, orderly and efficient growth and/or development consistent
with the preservation of sensitive uses and areas within the Borough
through land use controls.
(3)
Clarify, review and update existing zoning and subdivision ordinances
to evaluate their need and to create greater understanding and compliance
by the residents of the Borough.
(4)
Promote greater intermunicipal cooperation in planning.
(5)
Promote realistic opportunities for commercial and residential development/redevelopment
consistent with zoning, building and housing ordinances.
(6)
Promote municipal fiscal responsibility.
(7)
Promote the retention of traditional architectural styles in residential
and nonresidential reuse and conversions.
(8)
Promote the integration of various community characteristics, including
the historic structures, the streetscape and land uses.
B.
Housing objectives.
(1)
Continue to provide and support suitable areas for a variety of housing
choices in type, scale and size (single-family dwellings, double dwellings,
multifamily dwellings and townhouses).
(2)
Continue to provide and encourage areas for higher density development,
where appropriate.
(3)
Continue to provide low-density housing opportunities where they
are appropriate.
(4)
Continue to preserve historic properties by private or public means.
(5)
Facilitate cooperation with other municipalities and agencies in
Union County whenever possible in order to address major issues related
to housing.
(6)
Promote the retention of traditional residential architectural styles
in residential rehabilitation and conversion activities, and in the
redevelopment of residential districts.
C.
Industrial and commercial objectives.
(1)
Promote the redevelopment and reuse of light-industrial uses within
the areas that already contain such uses.
(2)
Promote and support pedestrian-oriented commercial development and
redevelopment in existing downtown area.
(3)
Promote and support vehicle-oriented commercial development and redevelopment
in existing highway-commercial area.
(4)
Ensure the preservation of a healthy downtown commercial district.
D.
Transportation objectives.
(1)
Encourage and promote cooperation with surrounding municipalities,
as well as the commonwealth, in the development of transportation
planning, including pedestrian and bicycle transportation, for the
greater Lewisburg area.
(2)
Promote the downtown business area through improved signage on Route
15.
(3)
Encourage the Commonwealth to undertake a regional traffic systems
study to identify any necessary improvements to hazardous intersections
and the congestion created by Routes 15 and 45.
(4)
Examine on-street parking designs and uncoordinated traffic signals
that may hinder traffic flow.
(5)
Encourage a circulation system designed to permit ease and safety
of pedestrian movement.
(6)
Ensure that roads and highways comply with Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation standards.
(7)
Ensure that transportation projects are not detrimental to the environment.
E.
Environmental objectives.
(1)
Preserve the unique character of the Borough of Lewisburg by continuing
to concentrate commercial, industrial and residential development
in areas in which it already exists.
(2)
Discourage development on environmentally sensitive lands including,
but not limited to, irreplaceable wetlands and floodplains.
(3)
Provide for compatible uses in floodplain areas (open space, parks
and recreation, etc.).
(4)
Improve stormwater management planning and control.
(5)
Initiate energy use practices that promote beneficial results regarding
conservation, efficiency and renewable and sustainable energies.
(6)
Continue to support and improve current recycling efforts.
F.
Recreation and open space objectives.
(1)
Continue to provide an adequate amount of recreational area for the
residents of the Borough of Lewisburg.
(2)
Continue to preserve an appropriate portion of the Borough as open
space accessible to the general public.
(3)
Ensure that recreational and open space areas are not detrimental
to the environment or a nuisance to Borough residents.
