[Ord. No. 130, 12/9/1991]
An Ordinance establishing regulations, specifications and restrictions
for the uses of land, watercourses and other bodies of water; the
size, height, bulk, location, erection, construction, repair, maintenance,
alteration, razing, removal and use of structures; the areas and dimensions
of land and bodies of water to be occupied by uses and structures
including areas, courts, yards and other open spaces and distances
to be left unoccupied by uses and structures; and the density of population
and intensity of land uses, in the Township of Amity, Berks County,
Pennsylvania, and for said purposes dividing the Township into districts
and prescribing certain uniform regulations for each such district
and providing for the administrative enforcement and amendment provisions
in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,
Act 247, as amended.
[Ord. No. 130, 12/9/1991]
This Part shall be known as, and may be cited as the "Amity
Township Zoning Ordinance of 1991, as amended."
[Ord. No. 130, 12/9/1991]
This Part has been adopted in accordance with the requirements
of Act 247 (Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code), as amended;
with the goals, objectives and policies established within the Amity
Township Comprehensive Plan (adopted in July of 1990; as amended);
and with consideration for the character of the Township and its capacity
to accommodate growth and development. In addition to implementing
the Amity Township Comprehensive Plan, the purpose of this Part is
designed:
(a)
To promote, protect and facilitate one or more of the following:
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, as well.
(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.
(d)
To identify, protect and preserve the physical and environmental
amenities within the Township.
(e)
To encourage aesthetical and innovative residential growth within
the Township that will meet the needs of existing and future residents.
(f)
To encourage commercial and industrial development that is adequate
to meet the Township's needs for employment, goods and services.
(g)
To ensure through planning that public facilities and controls are
adequate to accommodate future growth.
(h)
To provide for a system of open space through the preservation of
flood plains, steep slopes, wooded areas and farmlands, providing
areas for passive and active recreation.
(i)
To promote, encourage and practice energy conservation within the
Township.
(j)
To provide and establish a transportation network that safely and
efficiently circulates people and goods throughout and within the
Township.
[Ord. No. 130, 12/9/1991]
Except as hereinafter provided, no building, structure, land
or parts thereof in the Township shall be used or occupied, erected,
constructed, assembled, moved, enlarged, reconstructed or structurally
altered unless in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 130, 12/9/1991]
This chapter shall not apply to any existing or proposed buildings,
or extension thereof, used or to be used by a public utility corporation,
if, upon petition of said 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 Township have notice of the hearing and are
granted an opportunity to appear, present witnesses, cross-examine
witnesses presented by other parties and otherwise exercise the rights
of a party to the proceedings.
[Ord. No. 130, 12/9/1991]
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter,
they shall be held to be the minimum requirements adopted for the
promotion of the public health and safety and the general welfare
of the residents and occupants of the Township. Where the provisions
of this chapter impose greater restrictions than those of any other
Township statute, ordinance or regulation, the provisions of this
chapter shall be complied with. Where the provisions of any other
Township statute, ordinance or regulation impose greater restrictions
than this chapter, the provisions of such other Township statute,
ordinance or regulation shall be complied with unless otherwise stated
in this chapter.
[Ord. No. 130, 12/9/1991]
This chapter attempts to emulate through its regulations the
goals and objectives of the Amity Township Comprehensive Plan. These
regulations have been established with considerations to the Township's
physical characteristics, population trends, housing characteristics,
existing land use characteristics, community facilities and services
and existing transportation characteristics. The regulations established
in this chapter reflect and portray the goals, objectives and policies
of the functional components of the adopted Comprehensive Plan.
[Ord. No. 130, 12/9/1991]
Should any article, section, subsection, paragraph, clause,
phrase or provision of this chapter be declared by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect the validity
of this chapter as a whole or any part or provision thereof other
than the part so decided to be invalid or unconstitutional.
[Ord. No. 130, 12/9/1991]
All ordinances or parts of ordinances, together with the amendments
and supplements thereto, are hereby repealed to the extent that the
same conflict with the provisions of this chapter; provided however,
that the provisions of this chapter shall not affect any suit or prosecution
pending or to be instituted to enforce any provision of such repealed
ordinance or to punish any offense against any such repealed ordinance
committed prior to the effective date of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 130, 12/9/1991]
This chapter has been enacted by the Amity Township Board of
Supervisors on December 9, 1991. This chapter shall become effective
December 16, 1991. This chapter was amended on May 4, 1992, August
29, 1994, April 27, 1998, April 26, 1999, October 11, 1999, December
11 2000, May 6, 2002, September 16, 2002, April 15, 2003, August 5,
2003, July 5, 2005, May 16, 2006, December 19, 2006, April 17, 2007,
May 16, 2007, June 6, 2007, August 21, 2007, August 6, 2008, October
1, 2008, October 7, 2009, October 21, 2009, December 15, 2010, October
5, 2011, December 5, 2012, March 19, 2014, July 1, 2015 and June 15,
2016.
