[Ord. 8-14-1995, § 100]
An ordinance regulating the location, height, bulk, erection, construction, alteration, razing, removal and size of structures, the percentages 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 New Britain Township.
[Ord. 8-14-1995, § 101]
This chapter shall be known as and may be cited as the "New Britain Township Zoning Ordinance of 1995."
[Ord. 8-14-1995, § 102]
The purposes of this chapter are:
a. 
To implement the New Britain 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 of 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 I, § 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 ensure the health, safety and welfare of all the people.
g. 
To provide standards for a variety of types of dwelling units so that all the people may have access to decent, sound and sanitary housing.
h. 
To regulate the growth of the Township, concentrating development in areas where adequate sewage and water facilities, roads and schools can be provided and limiting development in areas where these facilities are not provided.
i. 
To lessen the danger and congestion of traffic on the roads and highways and to reduce excessive numbers of roads.
j. 
To provide standards for commercial, industrial and institutional development.
k. 
To secure economy in local government expenditures.
[Ord. 8-14-1995, § 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 width 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 or 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 restrictions placed upon property by covenant, deed or other private agreement unless repugnant hereto.
e. 
Those provisions in the New Britain Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22] concerned with varying design standards shall not be considered to be in conflict with the provisions of this chapter.
[Ord. 8-14-1995, § 104]
It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Board of Supervisors that:
a. 
If a court of competent jurisdiction declares any provisions of this chapter to be invalid or ineffective in whole or in part, the effect of such decision shall be limited to those provisions which are expressly stated in the decision to be invalid or ineffective and all other provisions of this chapter shall continue to be separately and fully effective.
b. 
If a court of competent jurisdiction finds that the application of any provision or provisions of this chapter to any lot, building or other structure or tract of land to be invalid or ineffective in whole or in part, the effect of such decision shall be limited to the person, property or situation immediately involved in the controversy and the application of any such provision to other persons, property or situations shall not be affected.
[Ord. 8-14-1995, § 105; as amended by Ord. 2007-04-01, 4/26/2007; and by Ord. No. 2018-10-04, 10/1/2018]
The Township of New Britain 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 use, that are deemed most suitable to carry out the objectives of this chapter and the Comprehensive Plan. For the purpose of this chapter, New Britain Township is hereby divided into districts which shall be designated as follows:
C/R
Conservation and Recreation District
WS
Watershed District
RA 2 WS
Watershed District
SR-1
Single-Family Residential District
SR-2
Single-Family Residential District
RR
Residential District
VR
Village Residential District
MHP
Mobile Home Park District
C-1
Commercial District
C-2
Commercial District
C-3
Commercial District
OP
Office Park District
IN
Industrial District
I
Industrial District
IO
Industrial Office District
—
Floodplain Overlay District
—
Airport Overlay District
COD
Butler Avenue Corridor Overlay District
In addition to the zoning districts identified above, there are several court approved zoning districts in which special zoning conditions apply. These provisions have been defined in stipulations of agreement in individual court approved settlements. Where the settlement does not address a specific zoning issue, the provisions of the underlying zoning district shall prevail.
[Ord. 8-14-1995, § 106]
a. 
A map entitled "Zoning Map for the Township of New Britain" accompanies this chapter and is declared a part of this chapter.
b. 
The Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, attested by the Township Secretary and shall bear the adoption date of this chapter and the seal of the Township.
c. 
Changes of any nature to the Official Zoning Map shall be made in conformity with the amendment procedures set forth in this chapter. All changes shall be noted by date with a brief description of the nature of the change.
d. 
Regardless of the existence of purported copies of the Official Zoning Map which may, from time to time, be made or published, the Official Zoning Map shall be located in the Township Office and shall be the final authority on boundaries and districts. The Zoning Officer shall have a certified copy of the Official Zoning Map for official use.
e. 
If the Official Zoning Map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret because of changes and additions, the Board of Supervisors may, by resolution, adopt a new Official Zoning Map which shall supersede the prior Official Zoning Map.
f. 
The new Official Zoning Map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior Official Zoning Map, but no such correction shall include an amendment thereof, unless the amendment has been duly advertised and adopted.
g. 
Unless the prior Official Zoning Map has been lost or has been totally destroyed, the prior map or any part or parts thereof remaining shall be preserved together with all available records pertaining to its adoption or amendment.
[Ord. 8-14-1995, § 107]
Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the district as indicated on the zoning map, the Zoning Officer shall make an interpretation. 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.
d. 
Where a district boundary is not fixed by dimensions and where it approximately follows lot lines and where it does not scale more than 10 feet therefrom, such lot lines shall be construed to be such boundaries unless specifically shown otherwise.
e. 
In unsubdivided land or where a district boundary divides a lot, the location of such boundary, unless the same is indicated by dimensions, shall be determined by the use of the scale appearing on the map.
f. 
In case any further uncertainty exists, the Zoning Hearing Board shall review the Zoning Officer's determination and interpret the intent of the map as to location of district boundaries.