This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as "The West Brandywine Township Zoning Ordinance of 1984, as amended."
This chapter has been enacted to promote the
public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the inhabitants
of West Brandywine Township. This chapter is designed to coordinate
community development by:
A. Encouraging the most appropriate use of land;
B. Preventing the overcrowding of land;
C. Conserving the value of land and buildings;
D. Lessening the congestion of traffic on the roads and
highways;
E. Avoiding undue congestion of population;
F. Providing for adequate light and air;
G. Securing safety from fire, panic, flood, and other
dangers;
H. Facilitating the adequate provision of transportation,
water and sever facilities, school, and other public facilities;
I. Giving reasonable consideration among other things,
to the character of the district and its peculiar suitability for
particular uses; and
J. Giving effect to the policies and proposals of the
Comprehensive Plan as adopted by the West Brandywine Township Supervisors.
The following community development objectives
have served as the basis for the provisions of this chapter:
A. Guide future development of the Township in an orderly
fashion in accordance with the West Brandywine Township Comprehensive
Plan by regulating the type, location and density of development having
regard for the suitability of land to support land uses.
B. Maintain a significant amount of open space to preserve
the rural character of the Township.
C. Conserve natural resources by maintaining environmental
stability through the control of development in environmentally sensitive
areas of the Township.
D. Regulate land use so as to minimize conflicts and
to bring the most beneficial relationship between land use and the
road network within the Township.
The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,
Act 247, as amended, grants local municipalities the power to enact, amend
and repeal zoning ordinances. West Brandywine Township has enacted
this chapter in accordance with the provisions of Act 247, establishing
the following controls:
A. Uniform regulations. The regulations established by
this chapter within each district shall apply uniformly to each class
or type of structure or land.
B. New uses and structures. In all districts, following
the effective date of this chapter, any new building or other structure
or any tract of land shall be constructed, developed and used only
in accordance with regulations specified for each district.
C. Existing uses and structures. In all districts, following the effective date of this chapter, any existing use or structure which is not in conformity with the regulations for the district in which it is located shall be deemed nonconforming and subject to the regulations of Article
XVIII, Nonconformance. Any use or structure not in conformance with the Zoning Ordinance of 1968 and/or not lawfully nonconforming as defined therein, shall not become lawfully conforming by the terms of this chapter.
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for promoting the purposes of §
200-2 and the community development objectives of §
200-3.
It is not intended by this chapter to repeal,
abrogate, annul or interfere with any existing ordinance, or any rule,
regulation or permit adopted or issued, provided the same is not in
conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter. Where this chapter
imposes greater restrictions on the use of land or structures, the
provisions of this chapter shall control.