The purpose of the Open Space and Conservation District is to
preserve and/or conserve streams, creeks, drainageways and other vital
waterways, and to protect sensitive natural resources for recreational
and conservation purposes. Limited uses are permitted which are consistent
with the goal of protecting sensitive natural areas and providing
for public recreation and open space.
Permitted-by-right uses shall be as follows:
A. Any form of agriculture, subject to the requirements of §
135-212, and further provided that the commercial keeping and handling of poultry, livestock and other animals shall not be maintained in tracts of less than 10 acres in size.
B. Single-family detached dwellings.
C. Group homes, in accordance with §
135-231.
D. Home day care in accordance with §
135-232.
E. No-impact home-based businesses in accordance with §
135-234B.
F. Publicly owned recreational facilities.
H. Sporting equipment sales and rental shops, provided that all displays
are limited to the interior of an enclosed building, the floor area
does not exceed 7,500 square feet, and that hours of operation do
not occur between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The sporting
equipment sales and rentals shall be limited to that equipment which
may be used on the Conewago Recreation Trail or nearby Lancaster Conservancy
and/or Township-owned parklands.
I. Agritourism enterprises on a lot with a minimum lot area of 10 acres, meeting §
135-213.
J. Greenhouses, including retail sales that are limited to a roadside produce stand meeting the requirements of §
135-258.
K. Nature preserves, including hiking, biking and walking trails and
related educational facilities.
L. Places of worship, which may include an accessory day-care center, in accordance with §
135-251, with a maximum floor area of 20,000 square feet.
M. Forestry and related uses; provided that the applicant provides copies
of the permits and approvals from the DEP, and/or any other applicable
state or federal permit authorizing such use to occur.
N. Food service and concession stands or displays may be provided when
clearly secondary and incidental to a municipal use, sporting equipment
sales and rental shops, nature preserves or a park and playground
located on the property. Such facilities shall not be separately identified
on any signage visible from the property lines and freestanding structures
shall not exceed 600 square feet of area.
O. Short-term lodging.
[Added 1-6-2020 by Ord. No. 320-2020]
P. Accessory structures and uses customarily
incidental to the above-permitted uses.
The following uses are permitted when special exceptions are
granted by written approval of the Zoning Hearing Board. In granting
any special exception, the Board may attach certain conditions to
its approval which it feels are necessary requirements in order to
preserve and protect the character of the district in which the proposed
use would locate. The burden shall be upon the applicant to prove
that the approval of the application will not be detrimental to the
health, safety and general welfare of the community:
B. Horse boarding facilities; including riding schools, academies and/or private riding clubs in accordance with §
135-235.
C. Golf courses, in accordance with §
135-229.
E. Landscape businesses, nurseries and landscape services, in accordance with §
135-240.
F. Single-family cluster developments, meeting the requirements of §
135-351.
G. Private recreational facility, meeting the requirements of §
135-252.
H. Commercial communications antenna, other than a commercial communications antenna permitted by right under §
135-221A, which shall meet all requirements of §
135-221B.
I. Echo housing in accordance with §
135-225.
J. Farm-related business on a farm lot with a minimum lot area of 10 acres, meeting §
135-227.
K. Shooting ranges in accordance with §
135-259.
L. Home occupations in accordance with §
135-234A.
M. Community sanitary or water sewage treatment plant.
N. Accessory structures and uses customarily incidental to the above
special exception uses.
The following regulations shall apply to unattached buildings
for accessory use:
A. Maximum height. The maximum height shall be 20 feet, except that
this restriction shall not be applicable to farm buildings and silos.
B. Front yard minimum depth. The minimum building setback lines for all accessory buildings shall be 50 feet from the ultimate street right-of-way as designated by §
135-301.
C. Side yard. The minimum distance to any interior side lot line shall
be six feet.
D. Rear yard. The minimum distance to any rear lot line shall be six
feet.