1. Enactment. The original township zoning ordinance was enacted effective July 29, 1963, pursuant to § 67001 of the Second Class Township Code of the commonwealth, since repealed with respect to zoning and planning, by the state’s Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), Act of 1968, July 31, Pub. Law 805, 53 P.S. §§ 10101 et seq., and for each and every purpose therein specified the Board of Township Supervisors has ordained and does hereby enact the following ordinance, regulating and restricting by districts, the heights, number of stories and size of buildings and other structures, the portion of lots that may be occupied, the size of yards and other open spaces, the density of population and location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes.
2. Title. This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Zoning Ordinance of the Township of Bradford, Pennsylvania”.
3. Purpose.
A. As a part of the comprehensive development plan for the township, the comprehensive zoning plan, set forth in the text and maps which constitute this Chapter is adopted in order to promote public health, safety, morality and the general welfare.
B. These general goals include, among others, the specific following purposes: to provide for adequate light, air, water, schools, recreation areas, transportation, sewerage, drainage and other public needs; to provide against development of residential, business and industrial areas in order to conserve property values, to conserve the expenditure of funds ear-marked for public improvement, to promote the development of fossil fuel energy resources and renewable energy resources, to promote energy conservation and encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the township.
4. Community development objectives. This Chapter is to render a legal basis and framework to the future land use plan and development goals established by the Township Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. The objectives guiding future growth and improvement are to promote the most economical and efficient provision of municipal services; eliminate hazardous and detrimental land uses while encouraging beneficial and compatible land uses; maintain a healthful residential environment with adequate recreational, commercial and industrial support areas for the township and the region; preserve forest and steep slope areas; protect and conserve open spaces, drainage ways and floodplains; and, in general, avoid the problems of random development inconsistent with township-wide goals and objectives.
(Ord. 1983-2B, passed 4-20-1984)