[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998, § 1.100]
1. 
An Ordinance completely amending Zoning Ordinance 109 for Stroud Township, adopted May 4, 1983, and as amended thereafter.
2. 
This chapter divides the Township of Stroud into districts and regulates the use of land and the location, use and density of buildings within these districts; establishes a Zoning Hearing Board setting forth the duties and functions of said Board; regulates nonconforming uses and provides for the administration and enforcement of this chapter.
3. 
Pursuant to the authority conferred by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, State Act No. 247 of July 31, 1968, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., as amended, the Board of Township Supervisors of Stroud Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, hereby ordains and enacts as follows.
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998, § 1.110]
This chapter shall be known and cited as the "Stroud Township Zoning Ordinance."
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998, § 1.120]
No building, structure or land shall be used or occupied nor shall any building or part thereof be erected, moved, enlarged or structurally altered nor shall any land be proposed for subdivision or land development unless in conformity with the regulations of this chapter.
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998, § 1.130]
1. 
This chapter is developed in accordance with requirements of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., and the objectives the Stroud Township Comprehensive Plan 1994-2020 with consideration for the character of the Township, its various parts, and the suitability of the various parts for particular uses and structures, and is enacted for the following purposes:
A. 
To promote, protect and facilitate any or all of the following: the public health, safety, morals and the general welfare; coordinated and practical community development and proper density of population; emergency management preparedness and operations, and national defense facilities, the provisions of adequate light and air, access to incident solar energy, police and fire protection, vehicle parking and loading space, transportation and airports, water, sewerage, schools, recreational facilities, public grounds, the provision of a safe, reliable and adequate water supply for domestic, commercial, agricultural or industrial use, and other public requirements as well as preservation of the natural, scenic and historic values in the environment and preservation of forests, wetlands, aquifers and floodplains.
B. 
To prevent one or more of the following: overcrowding of land, blight, danger and congestion in travel and transportation, loss of health, life or property from fire, flood, panic or other dangers.
C. 
To preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering topography, soil type and classification, and present use and to preserve environmentally sensitive areas.
D. 
To provide for the use of land within the Township for residential housing of various dwelling types encompassing all basic forms of housing, including single-family and two-family dwellings, and a reasonable range of multifamily dwellings in various arrangements, mobile homes and mobile home parks, provided, however, that this chapter shall not be deemed invalid for the failure to provide for any other specific dwelling type.
E. 
To accommodate reasonable overall community growth, including population and employment growth, and opportunities for development of a variety of residential and nonresidential uses.
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998, § 1.150]
1. 
In the interpretation and the application of 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. It is not intended to interfere with or abrogate or annul other rules, regulations or ordinances; provided, that where this chapter imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings or premises, or upon the height or bulk of a building, or requires larger open spaces, buffer yards or setbacks, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail.
A. 
Non-Cumulative Districts. The zoning district requirements in this chapter are not meant to be cumulative; namely, that every use permitted in a residential district is not automatically permitted in commercial or industrial districts. This chapter provides separate requirements for each district.
B. 
Interpretation Standards. Any list of permitted or prohibited uses shall not be deemed to be an exhaustive list but has been included for the purposes of clarity and emphasis, and to illustrate, by example, uses which are desirable (permitted, special or conditional uses) or undesirable (prohibited uses). Whenever the Zoning Officer or Zoning Hearing Board make an interpretation of this chapter, then, unless other standards are in this chapter, the decisions shall be made so that the results will not be contrary to the spirit and purpose of this chapter or injurious to the surrounding neighborhood.
C. 
Interpretation of Chapter Provisions. In interpreting the language of this chapter to determine the extent of the restriction upon the use of property, the language shall be interpreted, where doubt exists as to the intended meaning of the language written and enacted by the Board of Supervisors, in favor of the property owner and against any implied extension of the restriction.
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998, § 1.160]
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is for any reason held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter. The Supervisors hereby declare that they would have passed this chapter and each section or Part thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections or Parts thereof be declared invalid.
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998, § 1.170]
The Township of Stroud Zoning Ordinance adopted May 4, 1983, and all amendments thereto, are hereby repealed. All other existing ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this chapter, to the extent of such conflict and no further, are hereby repealed. Excepting that Stroud Township reserves its power to enforce and prosecute any violations of all ordinances previously in effect.
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998, § 1.180]
This chapter shall take effect immediately subsequent to the adoption hereof.
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998, § 1.190]
No building shall be erected, moved, altered, rebuilt or enlarged nor shall any land or building be designed or arranged to be used for any purpose or in any manner by means of subdivision or land development or otherwise except in conformity with all regulations, requirements, and controls specified in this chapter for the district in which such building or land is located.