The 1999 Borough Zoning Ordinance is required by law to:
1. Not unduly restrict the display of religious symbols on property being used for religious purposes.
2. Not unreasonably restrict forestry activities, but to encourage maintenance and management of forested or wooded open space and promote the conduct of forestry as a sound and economically viable use of forested land throughout this commonwealth, forestry activities, including, but not limited to timber harvesting.
3. Provide for protection of natural and historic features and resources.
4. Provide for the reasonable development of minerals in each municipality.
5. Be generally consistent with the municipal comprehensive plan and the county comprehensive plan.
6. Permit no-impact home-based businesses in all residential zones of the municipality as a use permitted by right, except that such permission shall not supersede any deed restriction, covenant or agreement restricting the us of land, nor any master deed, bylaw or other document applicable to a common interest ownership community.
7. To promote, protect and facilitate any or all of the following:
A. The public health, safety, morals, and the general welfare; coordinated and practical community development and proper density of population; emergency management preparedness and operations, airports, and national defense facilities, the provisions of adequate light and air, access to incident solar energy, police protection, vehicle parking and loading space, transportation, water, sewerage, schools, recreational facilities, public grounds, the provision of a safe, reliable and adequate water supply for domestic, commercial, agricultural or industrial use, and other public requirements; as well as preservation of the natural, scenic and historic values in the environment and preservation of forests, wetlands, aquifers and floodplains.
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 provide for the use of land within the municipality for residential housing of various dwelling types encompassing all basic forms of housing, including single-family and two-family dwellings, and a reasonable range of multi-family dwellings in various arrangements, mobile homes and mobile home parks, provided, however, that no zoning ordinance shall be deemed invalid for the failure to provide for any other specific dwelling type.
D. To accommodate reasonable overall community growth, including population and employment growth, and opportunities for development of a variety of residential dwelling types and nonresidential uses.
8. Insure that no part of such municipality shall be left un-zoned.
9. Be described by a map made part of the zoning ordinance.
| The Borough Zoning Ordinance also governs: |
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1. Land (including water) uses.
2. The size, height, bulk, location, erection, construction, repair, maintenance, alteration, razing, removal and use of structures.
3. The areas and dimensions of land to be occupied by uses and structures, as well as areas, courts, yards, and other open spaces and distances to be left unoccupied by uses and structures.
4. The density of population and intensity of use.
5. The protection and preservation of natural and historic resources.
The stated purposes of the Borough Zoning Ordinance are the following modified goals from the Donegal Regional Comprehensive Plan:
1. Incorporate the Policy Goals established by the Lancaster County Planning Commission.
2. Promote innovative residential design that encourages the creation of a sense of community for undeveloped parcels.
3. Provide start-up housing opportunities that are affordable to young families.
4. Encourage adaptive reuse and infill development.
5. Protect sensitive and important natural features from indiscriminate development.
6. Stimulate economic development and revitalization by attracting commercial uses (such as retail, service and specialty stores) to the downtown area.
7. Encourage additional light industrial development, particularly in the eastern part of the Borough. Maintain and enhance existing industrial areas.
8. Provide opportunities for home occupations of limited intensity.
9. Work to improve the marketability of under-utilized buildings.
10. Provide for the diverse housing needs of all of the Region's current and future residents.
11. Promote the preservation of historic architecture.
12. Provide for development that takes full advantage of the availability of public water and sewerage services.
13. Encourage the creation of developer-aided neighborhood parks in future residential developments. Work to improve parkland in existing neighborhoods where there is a deficit.
14. Coordinate future land and roadway functions to maximize safe and efficient use of major roads.
15. Coordinate road improvements with planned roadway functions, design standards and planned land uses.
16. Assure that future development provides for access designs and planned locations that minimize traffic congestion and safety problems. Encourage needed improvements to be completed by developers.
17. Promote alternative means of transportation, such as pedestrian movement, bicycles, public transit and carpooling.
18. Seek to minimize the need for zoning variances for routine improvements.
BUILDING CODE
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Construction permits are typically required for decks, some swimming pools, new buildings, building additions, detached buildings over 1,000 square feet without plumbing and electric, screened porches, sunrooms, patios and decks over 30 inches above grade, finishing basements, interior alterations that involve moving or |
changing of walls, or if plumbing or electrical system is modified, replacement windows or doors - if larger than the original, hot tubs and spas, electric signs, and changes in non-residential tenancy.
The 2007 Borough Construction Code adopts the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
The Construction Code governs the construction and some replacement aspects, but not necessarily the maintenance, of buildings and related facilities. The code generally applies to the construction, alteration, repair and occupancy of all buildings and regulates inspections on various subjects, including footing, foundation, framing, masonry, energy, drywall, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, sprinkler and fire accessibility.
STREET AND SIDEWALK CODE
The 2000 Borough Street and Sidewalk Code regulates construction occurring in and abutting the public street and alley right-of-way. Common permits involve excavation and curb, sidewalk, handicapped ramp, tree, drainage, signs and driveway construction.
Also, sidewalk and fire hydrant, snow and ice removal is required of the property owners or occupants within 24 hours of the end of each storm. Moreover, accumulated snow and ice is be removed from roofs above public sidewalks within 24 hours after the storm. Finally, no snow or ice is to be deposited on the sidewalk, next to a fire hydrant or in a street cartway except for Borough plowing.
Some street obstructions are allowed under specified conditions and need a Street Obstruction Permit. The usual obstructions are cellar doors, scaffolding, dumpsters, building materials, and mortar boxes.
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
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The 2000 Borough Property Maintenance Code covers many things, including high weeds and grass; lead paint abatement; hazardous vehicles; rubbish and garbage accumulation; disrepair; exterior paint; window and door screens; |
interior and exterior sanitation; infestations; interior light, ventilation, and occupancy; plumbing and fixtures; mechanical and electrical equipment; fire safety; and street address numbers.
The Borough would like to remind residents that they are responsible for maintenance and trimming of trees on their property. This includes trees planted in or near the sidewalk. As per the Borough's ordinance, tree must be trimmed to a height of 14 feet above Borough Streets and 8 feet above sidewalks. Trees also may not block signs along the streets.
This code also requires inspections of buildings with two or more apartments every four years.
The 2003 Borough Emergency Access Ordinance requires key or "Knox" boxes to be installed on the outside of many non-residential and apartment buildings. The boxes give the fire department the ability to enter a building during an emergency without damaging the door, thus potentially saving the owner or insurer repair costs.
SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE
The 2000 Borough Subdivision and Land Development Code manages changes in property lines and proposed development. It also sets minimum standards for required improvements such as streets, sidewalks, curbs, drives, parking compounds, street and shad trees, lot markers and monuments, street and parking compound lights, and recreation facilities. Finally, this code governs the coordinated development of lots and streets with block and lot configuration requirements.
STORM WATER MANAGEMENT CODE
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The 2000 Borough Storm Water Management Code sets standards for mitigating the rate, volume, and quality of increased runoff from development.
For instance, storm water management is required for any development |
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of non-residential property. Development includes man-made changes to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filing, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations.
ADDRESSING REQUIREMENTS
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Addressing standards are intended to provide a coherent pattern of street numbering, partly for emergency first responders. Addressing changes are coordinated with the U.S. Postal Service and County Emergency Management Agency (911) |
you may need for your project.
If you have any questions, you may call the Zoning Officer at (717) 653-2300.
