[Ord. 1263, 8/10/2009]
1.
All uses shall be developed in a manner consistent with the preservation
of the quality of the existing environment and of any natural amenities
present on the site.
2.
All uses shall provide for the preservation and the minimum destruction
of natural drainage areas, minimum grading and destruction of the
ground surface, the preservation of substantial stands of trees and
forested areas, and the preservation of attractive views and any other
natural features existing on the site.
[Ord. 1263, 8/10/2009]
1.
Floodplains. All lands shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map for
Bristol Borough as one-hundred-year floodplain shall be protected
from disturbance, clearing, or grading, except as permitted by this
chapter.
2.
Steep Slopes. On lands with steep slopes that exceed an area of 100
square feet, the following standards shall apply:
A.
Slopes of 8% to 15%: no more than 50% of such areas shall be developed
and/or graded or stripped of vegetation.
B.
Slopes of 16% to 25%: no more than 30% of such areas shall be developed
and/or graded or stripped of vegetation.
C.
Slopes of 25% or more: no more than 15% of such areas shall be developed
and/or graded or stripped of vegetation.
3.
Woodlands and Trees.
A.
No more than 40% of any woodland may be cleared or developed. The remaining 60% shall be protected. No trees shall be cleared on any lands proposed for development before approval of a final land development plan as required by the Bristol Borough Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22].
B.
Any tree in excess of 15 inches in diameter at breast height (dbh)
(four feet from finished grade) shall not be removed except as permitted
in this chapter. An individual property owner need not obtain a permit
to cut down a tree or trees measuring less than 15 inches dbh as part
of normal home maintenance and upkeep, including the removal of diseased
or dead trees and removal of trees which are in such a condition or
physical location as to constitute a danger to the structures or occupants
of properties or a public right-of-way. However, the Zoning Officer
may issue a permit to an individual property owner to cut down any
tree greater than 15 inches dbh, provided such tree is diseased or
dead or constitutes a hazardous condition or nuisance. In addition,
the planting, pruning, or removal of any shade tree located in a road
right-of-way shall not be undertaken without issuance of a permit
by the Zoning Officer.
4.
Wetlands. "Wetlands" are those areas that are inundated or saturated
by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient
to support, and under normal conditions do support, a prevalence of
vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soils conditions;
or those areas of lands defined as wetlands in either (A) the United
States Army Corps of Engineers, Wetlands Delineation Manual; or (B)
the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, "Wetlands
Identification and Delineation," 25 Pa. Code, Chapter 105, "Dam Safety
and Waterways Management," rules and regulations, as most recently
updated or modified.
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Where differences between the foregoing criteria exist, the
most restrictive criteria will be used in any particular case. For
its application to this chapter, the "most restrictive criteria" shall
mean the criteria that cause the preservation of the most extensive
area of wetlands. No wetland areas may be graded, filled, developed,
or in any way disturbed, except as permitted by this chapter.
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5.
Streams, Waters of the Commonwealth, Waters of the US, and Watercourses.
No development, filling, piping, or diverting shall be permitted in
streams or watercourses. Any application to disturb streams, waters
of the Commonwealth, waters of the U.S. or watercourses made to the
Borough shall be accompanied by a permit from all state and federal
agencies with jurisdiction.
6.
Riparian Buffer. A riparian buffer shall be established along Otter
Creek and Adams Hollow Creek. The buffer shall be 10 feet in width
measured from the top of bank of the stream and extending on both
sides of the stream. The area of the riparian buffer may be counted
as part of the minimum lot area. The purpose of the buffer is to protect
water quality, prevent erosion and sedimentation, and prevent flooding.
Within the riparian buffer, there shall be no grading, removal of
vegetation, building, disturbance, or placement of structures, except
as permitted by this chapter.
7.
Areas with natural resource restrictions due to slopes, woodlands,
wetlands, floodways, streams, watercourses, and riparian buffer areas
shall be left undisturbed to the extent specified herein and shall
not be occupied by structures, driveways, parking areas, or other
improvements. No portion of the building envelope or yard areas in
which parking or accessory structures are permitted shall be occupied
by natural resources as defined above.
8.
Areas outside of the building envelope of the lot (the area of the
lot excluding all required yard areas, setbacks, and easements) may
contain natural resources as defined herein, provided that those areas
so affected must be identified on the recorded plans for the subdivision
or land development or on the zoning or building permit application
and shall be subject to a recorded deed restriction to be approved
by the Borough Solicitor to prevent any disturbance or development
of these areas.
9.
Erosion and Sedimentation Control and Drainage. Wherever the topography
and vegetation are to be disturbed, a plan for the control of erosion
and sediment and grading is required. It shall be unlawful to pave,
fill, strip or change the existing grade of any land; and it shall
be unlawful to disturb, modify, divert, block, or affect the natural
overland or subsurface flow of stormwater within the Borough without
first securing all required state permits and a zoning permit. If
required by the Bucks County Conservation District, a soil erosion
and sediment control plan shall be reviewed and approved by that agency
prior to the issuance of a zoning permit.
[Ord. 1263, 8/10/2009]
1.
No flammable or explosive liquids, solids, or gases shall be stored
in bulk above the ground, except for tanks or drums of less than 600
gallons of fuel which are directly connected with engines, heating
devices, or appliances located and operated on the same lot as the
tanks or drums of fuel.
2.
All outdoor storage facilities for fuel, raw materials and products stored outdoors (including those permitted in Subsection 1 shall be enclosed by a fence of a type, construction and size as shall be adequate to protect and conceal the facilities from any adjacent properties.
3.
No materials or wastes shall be deposited upon a lot in such a form
or manner that they may be transported off by natural causes or forces.
5.
Applicable Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulations
shall apply.
6.
All materials or wastes stored outdoors which might cause fumes or
dust, or which constitute a fire hazard, or which may be edible or
otherwise attractive to rodents or insects, shall be enclosed in containers
adequate to eliminate such hazards.
7.
Applicable Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and
National OSHA regulations shall apply.
8.
The following requirements shall apply to nonresidential land uses:
A.
No liquids, solids or gases having a flash point less than 73°
(as specified in the National Fire Code, Vol. 12 and 13, National
Fire Protection Association), shall be stored in bulk above ground,
except tanks or drums of fuel, having a maximum capacity of 3,000
gallons, connected directly with energy devices or heating appliances
located and operated on the same lot as the tanks or drums of fuel.
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Capacity of Flammable Materials Permitted, Gallons
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|---|---|---|
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Flash Point Closed Cup Tester
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Above Ground
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140° F. or higher
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10,000
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74° F. to 139° F.
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5,000
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73° F. or less, fuels connected to energy devices
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3,000
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B.
All outdoor storage facilities for fuel, raw materials and products
and all fuel, raw materials and products stored outdoors, shall be
enclosed by a fence with a minimum height of seven feet. Such fence
shall be chain link, stockade, picket (not exceeding three-inch spacing),
solid wood, building wall or such other material as may be acceptable
to the Zoning Officer to carry out the intent of this chapter.
C.
All materials or wastes which might cause fumes or dust, or which
constitute a fire hazard, or which may be edible or otherwise attractive
to rodents or insects, shall be stored outdoors only if enclosed in
containers adequate to eliminate such hazards.
[Ord. 1263, 8/10/2009]
All methods of sewage and waste treatment and disposal shall
be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
and in accordance with the Sewage Plan for the Borough.
[Ord. 1263, 8/10/2009]
1.
No person shall operate or cause to be operated on private or public
property any source of continuous sound (any sound which is static,
fluctuating or intermittent with a recurrence greater than one time
in any 15-second interval) in such a manner as to create a sound level
which exceeds the limits set forth for the receiving land use category
in the following table when measured at or within the property boundary
of the receiving land use:
|
Sound Level Limits by Receiving Land Use and Time
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Receiving Land Use Category
|
Time
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Sound Level Limit
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Residential
|
1)
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7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
|
60 dBA
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Open Space or Institutional
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2)
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10:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. plus Sundays and Legal holidays
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50 dBA
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Commercial or Business
|
1)
|
7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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65 dBA
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2)
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10:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. plus Sundays and Legal holidays
|
60 dBA
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Industrial
|
At all times
|
70 dBA
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2.
For any source of sound which emits a pure tone, the maximum sound level limits set forth in Subsection 1 shall be reduced by 5 dBA.
3.
The maximum permissible sound level limits set forth in Subsection 1 shall not apply to any of the following noise sources:
A.
The emission of sound for the purpose of alerting persons to the
existence of an emergency.
B.
Emergency work to provide electricity, water or other public utilities
when public health or safety are involved.
C.
Domestic power tools, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
on Mondays through Fridays, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays
and between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Sundays.
D.
Explosives and construction operations.
E.
Agriculture.
F.
Motor vehicles traveling on roads and highways.
G.
Public celebrations, specifically authorized by the Borough.
H.
Surface carriers engaged in commerce by railroad.
I.
The unamplified human voice.
4.
For any source of sound which emits an impulsive sound (a sound of
short duration, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay and an occurrence
of not more than one time in any 15-second interval) the excursions
of sound pressure level shall not exceed 20 dBA over the ambient sound
pressure level, regardless of time of day or night or receiving land
use, using the "fast" meter characteristic of a Type 2 meter, meeting
the ANSI specifications S1.4-1971.
[Ord. 1263, 8/10/2009]
1.
No person shall operate or permit the operation of any device or
conduct or permit any use to be conducted that creates vibration which
is above the vibration perception threshold of an individual at or
beyond the property boundary of the source (if on private property)
or at 50 feet from the source (if on a public space or public right-of-way).
2.
For the purposes of Subsection 1, "vibration perception threshold" means the minimum ground-or-structure-borne vibrational motion necessary to cause a normal person to be aware of the vibration by such direct means as, but not limited to, sensation by touch or visual observation of moving objects.
[Ord. 1263, 8/10/2009]
No smoke or other source of visible gray opacity greater than
No. 1 on the Ringlemann Smoke Chart as published by the U.S. Bureau
of Mines shall be emitted from any chimney except that smoke of a
shade not darker than No. 2 on the Ringlemann Chart may be emitted
for not more than four minutes in any thirty-minute period.
[Ord. 1263, 8/10/2009]
1.
The emission of dust, dirt, fly ash, fumes, vapors or gases which
can cause any damage to human health, to animals, to vegetation or
to property or which can cause any soiling or staining of persons
or property at any point beyond the lot line of the use creating the
emission, is hereby prohibited.
2.
No emission of liquid or solid particles from any chimney or other
source shall exceed 0.3 grains per cubic foot of the carrying gas
at any point beyond the lot line of the use creating the emission.
For measurement of the amount of particles in gases resulting from
combustion, standard correction shall be applied to a stack temperature
of 500° F. and 50% excess air in stack at full load.
[Ord. 1263, 8/10/2009]
All uses shall minimize the production of heat that is perceptible
beyond any property line of the lot on which the heat is produced.
[Ord. 1263, 8/10/2009]
1.
General Standards. Outdoor lighting for all residential and nonresidential
uses shall be designed to minimize undesirable off-premises effects.
A.
No use shall produce glare off the premises by illumination originating
on the premises. Glare is defined as the sensation produced by light
within the visual field that is sufficiently greater than the light
to which the eyes are adapted and which cause annoyance, discomfort,
or loss in visual performance or visibility, for any period of time,
no matter how short in duration.
B.
No bare or direct light source shall be visible beyond the lot lines.
Illumination from light originating on the site shall not exceed 0.10
footcandles at lot lines not along public roadways, and shall not
exceed 0.30 footcandles along public roadways. Overhead light pollution
caused by unshielded or bright lights shall not be permitted.
C.
Exterior lighting or interior lighting visible to the outside may
not be used as an attention-getting device or as additional signage.
D.
All lights shall have a full cutoff fixture, which is defined as
a light fixture with light distribution pattern that results in no
light being projected at or above a horizontal plane located at the
bottom of the fixture. This applies to all pole-mounted lights, building-mounted
lights, sign lights, walkway lights, and any other type of illumination.
No light shall shine directly into windows, onto streets or onto driveways
off premises. This shall not apply to holiday lights that are temporarily
displayed during holiday seasons.
E.
Exterior lighting may not outline a building or run along the roofline.
2.
General Requirements.
A.
Lighting plans are required on development and building plans. Any
exterior lighting such as pole-mounted, building, sign, canopy, sidewalk
illumination and driveway lights, shall be shown on the lighting plan
in sufficient detail to allow determination of the effects to adjacent
properties, traffic safety and overhead sky glow.
B.
All parking areas, sidewalks and pedestrian walkways shall be adequately
illuminated with a lighting system designed to architecturally complement
the area and to prevent any off-site glare and spillover onto adjacent
properties.
C.
Free-standing light fixtures shall be mounted on a pole with a maximum
height of 15 feet and directed downward. Where multiple freestanding
fixtures are required, various fixture types and varying heights of
fixtures may be required to provide scale and dimension to the site
and to create a diverse village appearance.
D.
Unless stated herein or otherwise required by Council, all lighting
systems shall utilize high intensity discharge sources. Average minimum
maintained footcandle levels shall be no less than 1.00 footcandle
and no more than 3.00 footcandles. Lighting fixtures shall be placed
to achieve a minimum average illumination of 2.00 footcandles in parking,
accessway and walking areas.
[Ord. 1263, 8/10/2009]
1.
Every use requiring power shall be so operated that any service lines,
substation or other facility shall:
[Ord. 1263, 8/10/2009]
1.
No person shall operate or permit the operation of any device or
conduct or permit any use to be conducted which does not comply with
the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
the Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Federal Interstate
Commerce Commission.
2.
No person shall conduct or permit any use to be conducted which causes
electrical disturbances (except from domestic household appliances)
to adversely affect any equipment at any time other than the equipment
creating the disturbance.
