[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 100]
An ordinance regulating the location, height, bulk, erection,
construction, alteration, razing, removal and size of structures;
the percentage of lot which may be occupied; the size of yards, courts
and other open spaces. The density and distribution of population;
the intensity of use of land or bodies of water for trade, industry,
residence, recreation, public activities or other purposes, and the
uses of land for agriculture, water supply, conservation, or other
purposes, in all portions of East Rockhill Township.
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 101]
This chapter shall be known as and may be cited as the "East
Rockhill Township Zoning Ordinance of 1970 as amended in 1986."
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 102]
The purposes of this chapter are:
a.
To implement the East Rockhill Township Comprehensive Plan.
b.
To promote, protect and facilitate the public health, safety, morals,
general welfare, coordinated and practical community development,
proper density of population, civil defense, disaster evacuation,
airports, and national defense facilities, the provisions of adequate
light and air, police protection, vehicle parking and loading space,
transportation, water, sewage, schools, public grounds and other public
requirements.
c.
To prevent overcrowding of land, blight, danger and congestion in
travel and transportation, loss of health, life or property from fire,
flood, panic or other dangers in accordance with an overall program,
and with consideration for the character the Township, its various
parts and the suitability of the various parts for particular uses
and structures.
d.
To preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering topography,
soil type, classification and present use.
e.
To provide standards to control the amount of open space and impervious
surfaces within a development; to control the intensity of development
in areas of sensitive natural resources or natural features in order
to reduce or eliminate adverse environmental impacts.
f.
To provide methods to implement Article 1, § 27, of the
Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which decrees that
the people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation
of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of the environment
and to protect natural resources which are a part of the ecological
system to which we are all bound, and, therefore, are the common property
of all the people, including generations yet to come, and must be
protected to insure the health, safety and welfare of all the people.
g.
To provide standards for all appropriate types of dwelling units
so that all the people may have access to decent, sound and sanitary
housing; to meet the goals of the Federal Housing Act of 1949, to
provide adequate zoning to meet a fair share of the region's housing
needs to the year 2000.
h.
To regulate the growth of the Township, concentrating development
in areas where adequate sewage facilities, roads and schools can be
provided and limiting development in areas where these facilities
are not provided.
i.
To lessen danger and congestion of traffic on the roads and highways
and to reduce excessive numbers of roads.
j.
To protect the tax base.
k.
To secure economy in local government expenditures.
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 103]
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.
a.
Whenever any regulations made under authority of this chapter require
a greater width or size of yards, courts, or other open spaces, or
require a lower height of buildings or smaller number of stories,
or require a greater percentage of lot to be left unoccupied, or impose
other higher standards than are required in or under any other statute,
the provisions of the regulations made under authority of this chapter
shall govern.
b.
Whenever the provisions of any other statute require a greater with
or size of yards, courts or other open spaces, or require a greater
percentage of lot to be left unoccupied, or impose other higher standards
than are required by any regulations made under authority of this
chapter the provisions of such statute shall govern.
c.
Whenever any regulations pertaining to a specific use or activity
under authority of this chapter require a greater width of size of
yards, courts or other open space, or require a lower height of buildings
or smaller number of stories, or require a greater percentage of lot
to be left unoccupied, or impose other higher standards than are required
for the zoning district or generally required under this chapter,
the greater or higher standards shall govern.
d.
This chapter does not repeal, abrogate, annul or in any way impair
or interfere with existing provisions of other laws or ordinances,
except those specifically or impliedly repealed by this chapter, or
any private restriction placed upon property by covenant, deed or
other private agreement unless repugnant hereto.
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 105; as amended by Ord. 194,
-/-/2000, Art. II; by Ord. 195, 9/19/2000, Art. I; and by Ord. 253,
4/20/2010]
The Township of East Rockhill is hereby divided into districts
of different types, each type being of such number, shape, kind and
area, and of such common unity of purpose and adaptability of uses
that are deemed most suitable to carry out the objectives of this
chapter and the Comprehensive Plan. For the purpose of this chapter,
East Rockhill Township is hereby divided into districts which shall
be designated as follows:
a.
Rural Areas. The purposes of the zoning districts of rural areas
are to maintain the agricultural industry; to preserve prime agricultural
lands; to protect large environmentally sensitive areas; to protect
established neighborhoods; and to protect and enhance rural villages
and commercial areas.
b.
Suburban Areas. The purpose of the Suburban Area District is to provide
for middle-density residential neighborhoods; to accommodate future
population growth in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan; to make
appropriate use of public sewers; and to recognize the development
constraints of the environmental features of the land and the road
system.
(1)
Suburban District.
c.
Development Areas. The purposes of the zoning districts of the development
areas are to accommodate in the most appropriate locations in the
more intensive residential, commercial, office and industrial uses
to the year 2010.
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 106]
Districts are bounded and defined as shown in the map entitled
"Zoning Map of East Rockhill Township" which accompanies and which,
with all explanatory matters thereon, is hereby made of part of this
chapter.
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 107]
Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the
district as indicated on the Zoning Map, the following rules shall
apply:
a.
Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately coinciding
with the center lines of streets, highways, railroad lines or streams,
such center lines shall be construed to be such boundaries.
b.
Where district boundaries are so indicated that they approximately
coincide with lot lines, such lot lines shall be construed to be said
boundaries; or where district boundaries are extensions of lot lines
or connect the intersections of lot lines, such lines shall be said
district boundaries.
c.
Where district boundaries are so indicated that they are approximately
parallel to center lines of streets or highways, such district boundaries
shall be construed as being parallel thereto and at such distance
therefrom as indicated on the Zoning Map.
