[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Harrisburg 7-8-2014 by Ord. No. 5-2014. Amendments noted where applicable.]
CROSS REFERENCES
Statement of community development objectives — see
Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code § 606.
Zoning purpose — see Pennsylvania Municipalities
Planning Code § 604.
This chapter shall be known as the "Zoning Code of the City
of Harrisburg."
A. This Zoning Code is enacted for the following purposes:
(1)
To promote, protect, and facilitate the public health, safety,
and general welfare;
(2)
To prevent overcrowding, blight, loss of health, life, or property
from fire, flood, or other dangers;
(3)
To adopt a Zoning Map dividing the City of Harrisburg into zoning
districts with varying regulations;
(4)
To permit, prohibit, regulate, and determine the uses of land,
watercourses, and other bodies of water, the size, height, bulk, location,
erection, construction, repair, expansion, razing, removal, and use
of buildings and structures, as well as yards and other open areas
to be left unoccupied;
(5)
To establish the maximum density and intensity of uses;
(6)
To provide for the protection of natural and historic features
and resources;
(7)
To protect existing residential neighborhoods and to provide
diverse housing opportunities, including housing that is affordable;
(8)
To establish regulations for signage and for off-street parking;
and
(9)
To establish environmental performance standards.
A. The Zoning Code applies to the following activities within the City
of Harrisburg:
(2)
Construction or demolition of a structure, building, parking
lot, or sign;
(3)
Change of use or expansion of the use of a structure, building,
parking lot, sign, or area of land; and
(4)
Creation of a lot or alteration of lot lines.
B. The Zoning Code shall not apply to any existing or proposed building
or extension thereof, used or to be used by a public utility corporation,
if upon petition of the corporation, the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission shall, after a public hearing, decide that the present
or proposed situation of the building in question is reasonably necessary
for the convenience or welfare of the public. It shall be the responsibility
of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to ensure that both
the corporation and the City of Harrisburg have notice of the hearing
and are granted an opportunity to appear, present witnesses, cross-examine
witnesses presented by the other parties, and otherwise exercise the
rights of a party to the proceedings.
A. The Zoning Code is enacted to achieve the following community development
objectives for the City of Harrisburg:
(1)
To protect and preserve existing neighborhoods while encouraging
reinvestment and revitalization;
(2)
To increase opportunities for decent, safe, and affordable housing
for renters and owners;
(3)
To protect and foster appropriate expansion of existing institutions
including the State of Pennsylvania Capitol Complex, hospitals, public
and private schools, universities, and other uses;
(4)
To increase the protection of historic resources, including
historic neighborhoods and National Register properties;
(5)
To protect the Susquehanna River and prevent development practices
which harm water quality;
(6)
To ensure that new development does not increase the potential
for loss of life or property due to flooding;
(7)
To increase opportunities for open space and recreational opportunities,
including the completion of the Capital Area Greenbelt, and to provide
additional access to these amenities for all neighborhoods;
(8)
To encourage mixed-use development near the Harrisburg Transportation
Center;
(9)
To encourage the use and expansion of alternative transportation
modes, including commuter rail, bus rapid transit, and pedestrian
and bicycle modes;
(10)
To encourage the redevelopment of vacant industrial parcels
in the downtown and neighborhood areas; and
(11)
To implement the goals, policies, and strategies of the City
of Harrisburg Comprehensive Plan.