This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Schwenksville
Borough Zoning Ordinance of 2019."
This Chapter shall become effective immediately upon adoption
or as soon thereafter as permissible by law.
A.
Statement of community objectives for future development. The general
goal is to plan for and ensure the maximum future development of the
Borough of Schwenksville by coordinating the planning and public and
private enterprises of the Borough with the plans and enterprises
of the surrounding area and region. Public involvement is a fundamental
aim. Planning shall continue to be directed at improving community
facilities and services, particularly where public opinion indicates
the need is greatest. In order to implement planned improvements,
diversified land use and consolidation of local governments and operating
agencies are being promoted. The guiding principle continues to be
to assure maximum community benefits consistent with local traditions,
the enlargement of goals and objectives for both public and private
enterprise and appropriate enhancement of human values.
A.
This chapter is enacted for the purpose of promoting the health,
safety, morals and the general welfare of the Borough; is in accordance
with the Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Comprehensive Plan; and
is designed to lessen congestion in the roads and highways, to secure
safety from fire, panic and other danger, to provide adequate light
and air, to prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue congestion
of population, to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation,
water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements, to
conserve the value of buildings, and to encourage the most appropriate
use of land throughout the Borough of Schwenksville. The legislative
intent is also expressed in certain particulars in other articles
of this chapter.
A.
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the Borough. The Comprehensive Plan in accordance with which this chapter is enacted and which is reflected in the provisions of the chapter has been formulated to implement the purposes set forth in §§ 176-102 and 176-103 above in the respects therein stated and more particularly with the view toward, inter alia, the following objectives:
1.
Guiding and encouraging the future development of the Borough in
accordance with comprehensive planning of land use and population
density that represents the most beneficial and convenient relationships
among the residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas
within the Borough, having regard to their suitability for the various
uses appropriate to each of them and their potentiality for such uses
as indicated by topography and soil conditions, existing man-made
conditions and trends in population, in the direction and manner of
the use of land, in the building development and in economic activity,
considering such conditions and trends both within the Borough and
with respect to the relation of the Borough to surrounding areas;
2.
Protecting the character and the social and economic stability of
each of such areas and encouraging their orderly and beneficial growth;
3.
Protecting and conserving the value of land and buildings throughout
the Borough, depending upon the necessity or circumstances, appropriate
to the various zoning districts established herein;
4.
Bringing about through proper timing the gradual conformity of land
use to the Comprehensive Plan aforesaid, and minimizing conflicts
among the uses of land and buildings;
5.
Aiding in bringing about the most beneficial relation between land
use and the circulation of traffic throughout the Borough, having
particular regard to traffic to and from expressways, and to avoidance
of congestion in the streets and the provision of safe and convenient
access appropriate to the various land uses;
6.
Aiding in providing a guide for public policy and action in the efficient
provision of public facilities and services, in the provision of safe
and proper sanitary sewage disposal, and for private enterprise in
building development, investment, and other economic activity relating
to land use.
B.
Insofar as such objectives are consistent with the purpose set forth in §§ 176-102 and 176-103 and with the aforesaid minimum requirements therefor. The provisions of this chapter shall be interpreted, administered and applied in such manner as will facilitate attainment of the said objectives and all others permitted by law.
It is not intended by this chapter nor shall it be so construed
as to repeal, abrogate, annul or interfere with any existing ordinances
or future enactment, nor with any rule, regulation or permit adopted
or issued thereunder, except insofar as the same may be inconsistent
or in conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter, provided
that where this chapter imposes greater restrictions upon the use
of buildings or land, or upon the height and bulk of buildings, or
prescribes larger open spaces than are required by the provisions
of such ordinance, enactment, rule, regulation or permit, then the
provisions of this chapter shall control.
This Zoning Ordinance shall not apply to uses or structures
owned or operated by Schwenksville Borough or by a municipal authority
created solely by Schwenksville Borough for uses and structures that
are intended for a public utility, stormwater, public recreation,
or public health and safety purpose.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith
are hereby repealed, except that this chapter shall not be deemed
or construed to repeal Borough ordinances and regulations pertaining
to, restricting or regulating parking of vehicles, use of streets
and alleys, traffic, the erection of buildings and setback lines,
and further provided that the provisions in this chapter which are
more restrictive of the private use of property or building thereon
than prior enactments shall prevail over such earlier regulations.
