Chapter 27 - Part 1 - Purpose, Jurisdiction and General Provisions

PART 1

PURPOSE, JURISDICTION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

§101.  PURPOSE.

The fundamental purpose of this Chap­ter is to promote the public safety, health, morals, conve­nience and general welfare; to encourage the most appropri­ate use of land throughout the Township; 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 improvement. 

(Ord. 84?2, 3/29/1984, §100)

 

§102.  COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES. 

This Chapter is designed to provide a legal basis and framework to the future land use plan and development goals established in the Comprehensive Plan.  The objectives guiding future growth and improvement of existing development within the Township are to promote the most economical and efficient provision of municipal services; eliminate hazardous and detrimental land uses while encouraging beneficial and compatible land use; maintain a healthful residential environment with adequate recreational, commercial and industrial supporting areas; protect and conserve open spaces, drainage ways and floodplains lights and in general avoid the problems of random development by establishing Township-wide goals and objectives. 

(Ord. 84?2, 3/29/1984, §101)

 

§103.  GRANT OF POWER. 

The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968), as amended, authorizes the Hampden Township Board of Commissioners to implement comprehensive plans or accomplish any of the purposes of said Act 247 by enacting a Zoning Ordinance. 

(Ord. 84?2, 3/29/1984, §102; as amended by Ord. 98-7, 8/27/1998)

 

§104.  APPLICABILITY. 

This Chapter provides that within Hampden Township in the County of Cumberland of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, no land, body of water or structure shall hereafter be used or occupied and no structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, construct­ed, reconstructed, moved or structurally altered except in conformity with all the regulations and procedures herein specified for the district in which such land, body of water or structure is located. 

The Board of Commissioners hereby recognizes the need to use and develop lands within Hampden Township to accommodate and implement governmental functions and responsibilities of this Township and its governmental entities.  Accordingly, not withstanding anything to the contrary appearing elsewhere in this Chapter, land, buildings, structures and premises in all zoning districts may be established and used by right for the performance of any municipal function of this Township or any of the Township's governmental entities, such as, but not limited to, the Hampden Township Sewer Authority, without regard to specific limitations, regulations or requirements pertaining to the zoning district in which the use may be located.  Any governmental entity of the Township proposing any use or action which would otherwise be governed by this Chapter shall submit such proposed use or action to the Planning Commission for review and comment. 

(Ord. 84?2, 3/29/1984, §103; and by Ord. 08-10, 08/28/2008, §1.)

 

§105.  SHORT TITLE. 

This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Hampden Township Zoning Ordinance." 

(Ord. 84?2, 3/29/1984, §104)