This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Aleppo
Township Zoning Ordinance," and the Zoning Map referred to herein
and adopted as part of this chapter shall be known as the "Aleppo
Township Zoning Map."
The purpose of this chapter is to promote, protect and facilitate
the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the inhabitants
of Aleppo Township by:
A. Encouraging and facilitating the orderly, coordinated and practical
development of the Aleppo-Sewickley-Glen Osborne (ASO) area; identified
land uses within this chapter that shall be considered mutually shared
with all communities participating in the ASO Joint Comprehensive
Plan;
B. Lessening the danger and congestion of traffic on the roads and highways
and providing for adequate off-street parking and loading for all
land uses;
C. Securing safety from fire, panic, flood and other dangers;
D. Providing for adequate light and air;
E. Promoting such distribution of population and classification and
utilization of land as will facilitate and conserve adequate provision
of transportation, water, drainage, sanitation, educational and other
public facilities, recreation and protection of natural resources
and the environment;
F. Establishing building lines and the locations of buildings or structures
designed for appropriate uses within such lines to prevent overcrowding;
G. Dividing the area into zones and districts restricting and regulating
the location, construction, reconstruction, alteration and use of
buildings, structures and land to conserve land, building and structure
values, protect the tax base, secure economy in governmental expenditures
and encourage variety and quality in land uses;
H. Providing housing opportunities consistent with the area's population
growth and housing demand, present and future;
I. Providing for the regulation of nonconforming uses, buildings and
structures;
J. Encouraging the conservation of nonrenewable energy sources through
the use of efficient building methods; and
K. Providing for the timely, equitable and efficient administration
of the provisions, regulations and restrictions hereof.
This chapter has been prepared in consideration of the character
of the Township, including existing land use patterns, the character
of remaining undeveloped land and the capacity of the community's
basic infrastructure to support additional development. Consideration
has also been given to development activities and trends in the area
surrounding the Township. The purpose of this chapter is to guide
future growth and development within the Township in accordance with
the following goals and objectives:
A. To preserve the quality of life within the Township's residential
neighborhoods.
B. To preserve and expand the Township's residential tax base in
a manner that is consistent with the density, intensity and environmental
quality of existing residential development within and around the
community.
C. To preserve and expand the Township's business and industrial
tax base in a manner that protects surrounding land uses and maintains
a high degree of environmental quality.
D. To provide adequate community facilities and services to meet the
needs of Township residents and its business community.
E. To undertake physical improvements to the man-made landscape that
will create a better community and improve the attractiveness of the
Township as a place to live and work.
F. To preserve the natural qualities and characteristics of land that
is unsuitable for development.
G. To provide citizens and prospective developers with a clear understanding
of the Township's land use decisionmaking process.
H. To encourage citizen participation in the land use decisionmaking
process.
The authority to promulgate the local regulation of land use
and related activities is provided for through Act 247 of 1968, the
Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, and Act 170 of 1988, an
amendment thereto.
After the effective date of this chapter, except for existing legal nonconforming uses or structures, no structure or building shall be erected, reconstructed, structurally altered, enlarged or moved, and no structure, building or land shall be used, occupied or designed to be used, unless in conformity with the regulations specified herein for the zoning district in which it is located and with all other applicable provisions of this chapter, and then only after applying for and securing all permits, licenses and approvals required by all laws, ordinances, resolutions, regulations and codes. Specifically noted are Chapter
200, Floodplain Management, and Chapter
350, Subdivision and Land Development.
Where a provision of this chapter is found to be in conflict
with a provision of any land use ordinance or code, applicable health,
building, housing or safety regulation, or any other ordinance, resolution
or regulation, on or after the effective date of this chapter, the
provision which establishes the more restrictive standard for protection
of the health, safety and welfare of the people shall prevail.