[Ord. 11/25/2003, § 100]
1.
Short Title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance of Cumberland Township of 2003."
2.
Authority and Purpose. The regulations in this chapter are made in accordance with the conditions and procedures of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code for promoting the health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity, and general welfare of the community. These regulations have been designed to lessen congestion in the streets, 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, and to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewage, parks, and other public requirements. These regulations reflect the policy goals of Cumberland Township as contained in the "Goals and Policies" section of the Cumberland Township Comprehensive Plan; nonetheless the Board of Supervisors hereby expresses its intent that neither this chapter nor any amendment to it may be challenged on the basis of any alleged nonconformity with any planning document.
3.
Applicability. Subject to Part 17 of this chapter (Nonconformance), no person may use, occupy, or sell any land or buildings or authorize or permit the use, occupancy, or sale of land or buildings under his control except in accordance with all of the applicable provisions of this chapter. For purposes of this section, the "use" or "occupancy" of a building or land relates to anything and everything that is done to, on, or in that building or land.
4.
Effective Date and Repealer. This chapter shall take effect and be in force from and after its approval as required by law. Ord 63A adopted by Cumberland Township on November 24, 1987, and all amendments thereto is hereby repealed in its entirety. The Zoning Map of Cumberland Township is hereby amended pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and the Zoning Map dated November 24, 1987, and last revised June 8, 1993.
5.
Severability. The provisions of this chapter are severable, and if any section, sentence, clause, part, or provision thereof shall be held illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such a decision of the court shall not affect or impair this chapter. It is the intent of the Board of Supervisors that this chapter would have been adopted if such illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional section, sentence, clause, part, or provision had not been included herein.
6.
Other Ordinances. In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the Cumberland Township. It is not intended to interfere with, abrogate, or annul other rules, regulations, or ordinances of the township, provided that where this chapter imposes a greater restriction upon the use of land or buildings or the configuration of improvements than are imposed by such other rules, regulations, or ordinances, the provisions of this chapter shall control.
7.
Enforcement. The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Zoning Officer, or such person as designated by the Board of Supervisors. The Zoning Officer shall require that applications for building permits shall contain all the information necessary to enable him to ascertain whether the proposed building, alteration, or use complies with the provisions of this chapter. No building permit shall be issued until the Zoning Officer has certified that the proposed building, alteration, or use complies with all the provisions of this chapter.
8.
Remedies. In case any building, structure, or sign is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted, or maintained, or any building, structure, or land is used, or any hedge, tree, shrub, wall, or other growth is maintained in violation of this chapter or of any regulations made pursuant thereto, in addition to other remedies provided by law, any appropriate action or proceeding, whether by legal process or otherwise, may be instituted or taken to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance, or use, to restrain, correct, or abate such violation, to prevent the occupancy of said building, structure, or land, or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business, or use in or about such premises.
9.
Violations and Penalties. For any and every violation of the provisions of this chapter, the owner, general agent, or contractor of a building or premises where such violation has been committed or shall exist, and the lessee or tenants of an entire building or entire premises where such violation has been committed or shall exist, and the owner, general agent, contractor, lessee, or tenant of any part of a building or premises in which part such violation has been committed or shall exist, and the general agent, architect, builder, contractor, or any other person who knowingly commits, takes part or assists in any such violation or who maintains any building or premises in which any such violation shall exist, shall be liable upon conviction thereof, to a fine or penalty not exceeding $1,000, which shall inure to the benefit and use of the Township, with the costs of suit and reasonable attorney fees; and in default of payment thereof, the District Justice may, in his discretion, commit the offender to prison in the county jail for a period not exceeding 30 days for each and every offense, and whenever such person shall have been notified by the Zoning Officer, or by service of a summons in a prosecution or in any other way, that he is committing such violation, each day's continuance of such violation after such notification shall constitute a separate offense punishable by a like fine or penalty.