For the purpose of this chapter, the Township is hereby divided
into classes of zoning districts which shall be designated as follows:
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A
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Agriculture District
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C
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Conservation District
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SR
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Suburban Residential District
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VC
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Village Commercial District
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HC
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Highway Commercial District
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HI
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Heavy Industrial District
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Q/L
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Quarry/Landfill District
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A.
The boundaries of the zoning districts shall be as shown on the Zoning
Map of Union Township. The Zoning Map and all notations, references,
and data illustrated thereon are hereby incorporated by reference
into this chapter.[1] The official copy of the Zoning Map shall be labeled and
identified by the signature of the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors,
attested by the Secretary of said Board, and bears the seal of the
Township under the following words:
"This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Map of
the Township of Union adopted by the Union Township Board of Supervisors
on __________, as part of the Union Township Zoning Ordinance. This
Zoning Map reflects all duly enacted amendments to the Union Township
Zoning Ordinance affecting zoning district boundaries."
[1]
Editor's Note: The Official Zoning Map and amendments thereto
are on file in the Township offices.
B.
If, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code, as amended, changes are made in district
boundaries or other matters portrayed on the Official Zoning Map,
such changes shall be entered on the Official Zoning Map promptly
after the amendment has been approved by the Board of Supervisors.
No change of any nature shall be made in the Official Zoning Map,
or matter thereon shown, except in conformity with the applicable
procedures established in this chapter. All changes shall be noted
by date with a brief description of the nature of the change.
C.
The Official Zoning Map shall be located in a place designated by
the Board of Supervisors and shall be the final authority as to the
current zoning status of land and water area in Union Township regardless
of unofficial copies which may have been made or published from time
to time.
D.
In the event that the Official Zoning Map becomes damaged, destroyed,
lost or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of
changes and additions, the Board of Supervisors may, by resolution,
adopt a new Official Zoning Map. The new Official Zoning Map may correct
drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior Official Zoning
Map, but no such correction shall have the effect of amending the
original Official Zoning Map or any subsequent amendment thereof.
The new Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of
the Board of Supervisors, attested by the Secretary of said Board,
and bear the seal of the Township under the following words:
"This is to certify that this Official Zoning Map of Union Township
supersedes and replaces the Official Zoning Map adopted as part of
the Zoning Ordinance of Union Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania."
E.
Unless the prior Official Zoning Map has been lost or has been totally
destroyed, the prior map or any significant parts thereof remaining
shall be preserved, together with all applicable records pertaining
to its adoption or amendment.
Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of districts as
indicated on the Official Zoning Map, the following rules provided
within this section shall be applicable:
A.
Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately coinciding
with the center lines of streets, highways, lanes, alleys, railroad
tracks, rivers or creeks, such center line shall be construed to be
such boundaries.
B.
Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately coinciding
with lot lines or municipal boundary lines, such lines shall be construed
to be such boundaries.
C.
Where district boundaries are indicated as being approximately parallel
to the center or right-of-way lines of streets or highways, lanes,
alleys, railroad tracks, rivers or creeks, such district boundaries
shall be construed as being parallel to the center or right-of-way
lines at such distance as is indicated on the Official Zoning Map.
Distances not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning Map shall
be determined by the scale of the map.
D.
Where district boundaries are indicated as being approximately perpendicular
to the right-of-way lines of streets or highways, such district boundaries
shall be construed as being perpendicular to the right-of-way lines.
E.
Where physical or cultural features existing on the ground are at
a variance with those indicated on the Official Zoning Map, or in
circumstances not covered within the context of this section, the
Zoning Hearing Board shall interpret the district boundaries.
F.
Where district boundaries are indicated in this chapter or any amendments
thereto by metes and bounds descriptions, such descriptions shall
control.
The following standards indicated within this section shall
be utilized for the generalized application of the district regulations
in association with this chapter:
A.
No building, structure, or land shall be used and no building, structure,
or part thereof shall be erected, constructed, assembled, moved, enlarged,
reconstructed, removed or structurally altered without the issuance
of a zoning and/or building permit by the Zoning Officer. No building,
structure or land shall be occupied without the issuance of a certificate
of use and occupancy by the Zoning Officer.
B.
No part of a yard, common open space, other open space, or off-street
parking or loading space required in connection with one structure,
building, or use of the land shall be included as part of a yard,
common open space, open space, or off-street parking or loading space
similarly required for any other structure, building or use of the
land, except as permitted or required by this chapter.
C.
No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this chapter which
meets the requirements of this chapter shall be reduced in dimension
or area below the minimum requirements set forth in this chapter.
D.
Where district regulations specify a minimum lot width at the street
line, the minimum lot width shall be provided contiguous along the
street line of one street. It is prohibited, when calculating the
width of a lot, to add widths along the street lines of two or more
streets. In the case of a corner lot, the minimum lot width must be
provided along the street line of one street, but does not have to
be provided along the street line of each street on which the lot
fronts.
E.
Where district regulations specify a minimum lot width at the building
setback line, the minimum lot width shall be provided contiguous along
the building setback line established from one street. It is prohibited,
when calculating the width of a lot, to add widths along the building
setback lines established from two or more streets. In the case of
a corner lot, the minimum lot width must be provided along the building
setback line established from one street, but does not have to be
provided along the building setback line established from each street
on which the lot fronts.
F.
In the case of a lot of irregular shape in which a portion of the
lot abuts a street and a portion not abutting a street abuts the rear
yards of lots which have frontage on the same street as does the irregularly
shaped lot, on the irregularly shaped lot a building setback line
shall be established from the abutting rear yards. As a minimum, the
building setback requirement of the applicable zoning district shall
be used in establishing such building setback line.
G.
No more than one principal building shall be permitted or erected
on a single lot, unless the zoning district permits mixed use or multiple
tenant occupancy.
H.
Front yard exceptions. When an unimproved lot is situated between
two improved lots with front yard dimensions less than those required
for the zoning district in which the unimproved lot is located, the
front yard required for the unimproved lot may be reduced to a depth
equal to the average of the two adjoining lots; provided, however,
that this provision shall only apply in such cases where the improved
lots in question are improved as of the time of the adoption of the
chapter and the improvements are located within 100 feet of the unimproved
lot. For the purpose of this section, an unimproved lot shall be the
same as a vacant lot, and an improved lot shall be one on which a
principal building is erected.
