This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Borough of Blawnox Zoning Ordinance" and the district map shall be known and may be cited as the "Borough of Blawnox Zoning Map."
The fundamental purpose of this chapter is to promote the safety, health, morals, convenience and general welfare; to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the Borough; to conserve and stabilize the value of property; to prevent overcrowding of land and buildings; to avoid undue concentration of population; to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to provide adequate open spaces for light and air; to facilitate adequate provision of streets and highways, water, sewerage, drainage and other public facilities; to conserve life, property and natural resources; and to conserve the expenditure of funds earmarked for public improvements.
A. 
This chapter is to render a legal basis and framework to the future land use plan and development goals established in the Statement of Community Development Objectives, adopted by Resolution No. 83-3 by Borough Council on March 21, 1983.
B. 
The provisions of this chapter are intended to achieve the following purposes:
(1) 
To promote and protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents and businesses of the Borough and of the public generally.
(2) 
To encourage and facilitate orderly community growth and development (add in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan and Official Map Ordinance when prepared.
(3) 
To provide adequate light, air, amenities, and access to public and private property.
(4) 
To guide development in order to provide adequate community facilities and utilities.
(5) 
To prevent the overcrowding or incompatible development or use of land.
(6) 
To prevent blighting conditions, congestion, and hazard in travel and transportation.
(7) 
To divide the Borough into various zoning districts that restrict and regulate therein the location, construction, alteration, and use of buildings, structures, and property.
(8) 
To encourage new development that is well-designed, of high quality and suited to the natural conditions of its site.
(9) 
To encourage the coordinated growth of communities.
(10) 
To encourage compact, efficient, and economic patterns of development.
(11) 
To avoid excessive public costs of scattered development.
(12) 
To prevent development which may be hazardous because of the physical conditions of said development.
A. 
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the Borough and its citizens. It is not intended by this chapter to interfere with or abrogate or annul any rules or regulations previously adopted or permits previously issued by the Borough which are not in conflict with any provisions of this chapter, nor is it intended by this chapter to interfere with or abrogate or annul any easements, covenants, building restrictions, or other agreements between parties; provided, however, that where this chapter imposes a greater restriction upon the use of the buildings or premises or upon the height of the building, or requires a larger open space than is imposed or required by such ordinance, rules, regulations or permits, or by easements, covenants, building restrictions or agreements, the provisions of this chapter shall control.
B. 
No building, structure or land shall hereafter be used or occupied; and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered unless in conformity with all the regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located.
A. 
Wherever the regulations within this Zoning Ordinance are at variance with other lawfully adopted rules, regulations, ordinances, restrictions, or covenants, those which impose the most restrictive requirements shall govern.
B. 
No structure or use which was not lawfully existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter shall become or be made lawful solely by reason of the adoption of this chapter; and to the extent that, and in any respect that, said unlawful structure or use is in conflict with the requirements of this chapter, said structure remains unlawful hereunder.
C. 
Regardless of any other provision of this chapter, no land shall be used, and no structure erected or maintained in violation of any state or federal environmental protection law or regulation.
All existing ordinances or parts of ordinances which are contrary to or conflict with the provisions of this chapter are hereby repealed to the extent necessary to give this chapter full force and effect.
Should any section or provision of this chapter be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of this chapter as a whole or any part thereof, and the parts or sections remaining shall remain in effect as though the part of the section declared unconstitutional had never been a part thereof.