[Amended 3-16-2015 by Ord. No. 293-2015]
A. The purpose of agricultural zoning is to encourage the preservation
of productive farmland as a finite and valuable natural resource and,
therefore, to protect farmland against incompatible development and
uses that could adversely affect the long-term economic viability
of these lands.
B. Effective agricultural zoning can achieve good growth management
by:
(1) Protecting the integrity of a critical mass of sustainable, large,
contiguous parcels;
(2) Avoiding incompatible scattered development of nonagricultural structures
and uses that interferes with conventional agricultural operations;
and
(3) Minimizing land use conflicts and controversies.
C. The Township has established the Agricultural District and the regulations
for land use within the Agricultural District to implement the mandates
of Sections 603(g)(1) and 603(h) of the MPC, which require that zoning
ordinances protect prime agricultural land and encourage the continuity,
development and viability of agricultural operations. The Township
has also established the Agricultural District in accordance with
MPC Section 604(3), which requires that provisions of a zoning ordinance
be designed to preserve prime agricultural and farmland considering
topography, soil type and classification, and present use.
Permitted-by-right uses shall be as follows:
A. Any form of agriculture, horticulture, silviculture, viticulture and related buildings and uses, subject to the provisions of §
135-212. These uses shall include general farming operations and plant nurseries.
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 business, in accordance with §
135-234B.
F. Municipal uses, and related public utilities.
G. Greenhouses, including retail sales that are limited to a roadside produce stand meeting the requirements of §
135-258.
H. Agritourism enterprises on a lot with a minimum lot area of 10 acres, provided that the requirements of §
135-213 are met.
I. Manure storage facility as an accessory use to a farm, in accordance with §
135-243.
J. Roadside produce stand, in accordance with §
135-258.
K. Stable, provided that any new lot meets the requirements of §
135-84, and any barn, stable or corral is located a minimum of 100 feet from any lot line and 200 feet from any dwelling, other than the dwelling of the owner of the animals.
M. Joint-use driveways in accordance with §
135-321.
N. 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.
O. Nature preserves and related uses, including walking, hiking, biking
and horseback riding trails and paths.
P. Rural heritage meeting center, subject to the provisions of §
135-272.
[Added 1-6-2014 by Ord. No. 284-2014]
Q. Short-term lodging.
[Added 1-6-2020 by Ord. No. 320-2020]
R. Accessory structures and uses customarily
incidental to the above-permitted uses.
[Amended 1-6-2020 by Ord. No. 320-2020]
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.
A. Bed-and-breakfast establishments meeting §
135-217.
C. Horse boarding facilities; including riding schools, academies and/or private riding clubs, in accordance with §
135-235.
D. Church, cemetery, or place of worship, and its customary accessory
uses that lawfully existed prior to January 1, 1997, in the A-Agricultural
District shall be considered to be a conforming use and may expand
by special exception on its existing lot, provided that all dimensional
and coverage requirements are met. However, no new place of worship
or cemetery shall be permitted in the A-Agricultural District.
E. Commercial communications antenna, other than a commercial communications antenna permitted by right under §
135-221A, which shall meet all requirements of §
135-221B.
F. Echo housing in accordance with §
135-225.
G. Farm-related business on a farm lot with a minimum lot area of 10 acres, in accordance with §
135-227.
H. Greenhouse and horticultural activities which include retail sales which are in excess of a roadside produce stand, in accordance with §
135-230.
J. Landscaping business, nurseries and services, in accordance with §
135-240.
K. Shooting ranges meeting all state and federal regulations regarding a firing range and the regulations of §
135-259.
L. Accessory structures and uses customarily incidental to the above
special exception uses.
The following regulations 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 road right-of-way as designated by §
135-301.
C. Side yard. The minimum distance to any interior side lot line shall
be 10 feet.
D. Rear yard. The minimum distance to any rear lot line shall be 10
feet.