[Amended 5-18-1994 by Ord. No. 163; 2-19-1997 by Ord. No. 175; 4-4-2001 by Ord. No. 199]
A.
Purpose. The primary purpose of this zone is to promote the continuation and preservation of agricultural activities in those areas most suitable for such activities. Areas contained within the zone have been specifically identified as possessing valuable and nonrenewable natural and cultural resources. This zone also intends to protect and stabilize the Township's viable agricultural economy by eliminating uses that are incompatible with farming, but permitting limited agricultural support businesses. Consequently, residential uses are limited and any future inhabitants in this zone must be willing to accept the impacts associated with normal farming practices and related businesses. This zone limits the total number of subdivisions and the maximum lot sizes of nonagricultural uses so as to avoid the creation of farmettes which reduce the productivity of the Township's agricultural economy. This zone is also intended to be a "sending" area for the transfer of development rights. Finally, the provisions of this zone have been specifically formulated to further the objectives of the Municipalities Planning Code which provides that local zoning ordinances shall be designed to preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering topography, soil type and classification and present use.
B.
Permitted uses.
(1)
Agriculture, including one single-family detached dwelling contained on the site and including commercial poultry operations and commercial livestock operations as defined herein.
(2)
Horticultural and forestry-related uses.
(3)
Municipal uses.
(4)
Public utilities structures.
(5)
Accessory uses customarily incidental to the above permitted uses including, but not limited to, the following:
(a)
Roadside stands, as an accessory use to the farm, for the sale of agricultural products, subject to the following:
[1]
Any structure used to display such goods shall not exceed 2,000 square feet in size, and shall be located at least 25 feet from any property line.
[2]
At least half of the products displayed for sale must have been produced on the premises.
[3]
Off-street parking shall be provided for all employees and customers.
[4]
Any signs used shall be attached to the roadside stand structure and shall not exceed 10 square feet in total area nor exceed a maximum height of 15 feet.
(b)
Family day-care facilities as defined herein.
(c)
Manure storage facilities, as an accessory use to a farm, subject to the following regulations:
[1]
All manure storage facilities shall be designed in compliance with the guidelines outlined in the publication Manure Management for Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Quality Management Publication No. 43, and any revisions, supplements, and replacements thereof, published by the PA DEP, copies of which are available from the Water Quality Management in the PA DEP Regional Offices located at 1 Ararat Boulevard, Harrisburg, PA 17110, telephone (717) 657-4585.
[2]
All waste storage facilities' designs shall be reviewed by the Lancaster County Conservation District. The applicant shall furnish a letter from the Conservation District attesting to approval of the design of the proposed facility.
[3]
Construction and subsequent operation of the waste storage facility shall be in accordance with the permit and the approved design. Any design changes during construction or subsequent operation will require the obtainment of another review by the Lancaster County Conservation District.
(d)
Accessory manure digesters as an accessory use to a farm (see § 340-92.1E).
[Added 7-20-2011 by Ord. No. 248[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsection B(5)(d) as Subsection B(5)(e).
(e)
Beekeeping, on any farm within the Township, subject to the following:
[1]
The applicant shall obtain a zoning permit from the Zoning Officer.
[2]
It shall be the duty of the applicant to maintain each colony so as not to create a public nuisance.
[3]
Colonies shall be maintained in movable frame hives.
[4]
All beehives shall be maintained in a healthy condition using locally-accepted beekeeping management procedures.
[5]
All hives shall be at least 50 feet from a public road, or shall have a minimum five high fence or vegetative obstruction between the apiary and the road, or shall be elevated above the roadway so as to direct bee flight above traffic or pedestrians.
[6]
There shall be a source of water within 1/2 mile of the apiary.
[7]
New rural apiaries of 10 hives or more shall not be established within 50 yards of any adjoining property containing a residence.
D.
Conditional uses. (Subject to the review procedures listed in § 340-131 of this chapter.)
(3)
Septage and spent mushroom compost processing and/or commercial mushroom operations (see § 340-98).
(9)
Agricultural, horticultural and forestry-related uses that contain less than 20 acres and are established after the effective date of this chapter (February 24, 1997) (see § 340-106).
(12)
Principal solar energy system (see § 340-92.1C).
[Added 7-20-2011 by Ord. No. 248]
(13)
Principal wind energy system (see § 340-92.1D).
[Added 7-20-2011 by Ord. No. 248]
(14)
Principal manure digester (see § 340-92.1F).
[Added 7-20-2011 by Ord. No. 248]
E.
Limitations on subdivision/land development.
(1)
It is the purpose and intent of the Agricultural Zone to limit the development of agricultural tracts regardless of whether such development is accomplished by subdivision or land development as those terms are defined in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. In order to preserve the agricultural tracts, it is the express intent of this zone that the subdivision of lots from farms or the development of nonagricultural uses and structures on existing farms shall be limited. In addition, it is the express intent of these provisions that the maximum size of lots created for any use other than agriculture be limited in order to provide for the retention of tracts of sufficient size to be used for agricultural purposes. It is the intent of the Board of Supervisors to implement the mandate of § 604(3) of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to preserve prime agricultural land through the enactment of these regulations.
(2)
Number of lots, dwelling or other principal nonagricultural buildings permitted. For each parent tract there shall be permitted the subdivision of one lot (which shall specifically include, but not be limited to, a subdivision to erect a single-family dwelling (subject to obtaining conditional use approval as required by Subsection D(1), above), a subdivision to create a lot for any permitted nonagricultural use (subject to obtaining any required special exception or conditional use approval), a subdivision to create a farm or farms and a subdivision to change lot lines or a "lot add-on" subdivision which removes land from the parent tract to add the land to another lot) or the erection of one single-family dwelling or other principal nonagricultural building on the parent tract (subject to obtaining any required special exception or conditional use approval), but not both, with the portion of the existing or newly created lot used for residential purposes limited to the maximum lot size set forth in Subsection F(2)(a), below, for each 20 acres or part thereof held on November 13, 1985, or if the parent tract was not classified as Agricultural Zone on November 13, 1985, on the date when such land was first included in the Agricultural Zone after November 13, 1985. A tabular example of this limitation on the creation of lots or the erection of dwellings or other principal nonagricultural uses is as follows:
Lot Area (acres) | Number of New Lots Which May Be Subdivided or Number of Dwellings or Nonagricultural Principal Uses Which May be Established | ||
|---|---|---|---|
At Least | Less Than | ||
2 | 20 | 1 | |
20 | 40 | 2 | |
40 | 60 | 3 | |
60 | 80 | 4 | |
80 | 100 | 5 | |
100 | 120 | 6 | |
120 | 140 | 7 | |
140 | 160 | 8 | |
160 | 180 | 9 | |
180 | 200 | 10 | |
200 | 220 | 11 | |
(4)
Any lot existing on the effective date of this section (February 24, 1997), which is 10 or fewer acres in size shall be presumed to be used for residential purposes. No subdivision shall be permitted which shall increase the lot size of a lot used for residential purposes in excess of the maximum lot size set forth in Subsection F(2), except as otherwise provided in Subsection E(6).
(5)
A subdivision, the sole purpose of which is to provide for a lot-add-on, where both the parent tract from which the land is taken, and the lot to which the land is added, comply with the lot area requirements of Subsection F, and are presently being used for agricultural purposes shall not be included when computing the permissible number of lots which may be subdivided from a parent tract as set forth Subsection E(2), above.
(6)
A subdivision, the sole purpose of which is to transfer not more than 10,000 square feet of land to increase the size of an existing lot for the purpose of making a boundary line more regular, shall not be included when computing the permissible number of lots which may be subdivided from a parent tract as set forth in Subsection E(2), or when computing the maximum lot size set forth in Subsection F(2). If DEP regulations require an area greater than two acres for the dispersal of nitrogen-nitrates, the land area necessary for this dispersal shall not be permitted to be a part of the lot. The owner of the parent tract from which such lot is created shall grant a plume easement over adjoining land on the parent tract to provide for the necessary dispersal of the nitrogen-nitrates and shall record all necessary documentation to give public notice of this easement.
(7)
A subdivision to create a lot which will be transferred to the Township, or a municipal authority created by the Township, shall not be included when computing the permissible number of lots to be subdivided from a tract as set forth in Subsection E(2).
(8)
Any subdivision or land development plan hereafter filed with the applicable approving body for subdivision or land development of a parent tract shall specify which lot or lots shall carry with it a right of further subdivision or establishment of principal uses, if any such right remains from the quota allocated to the parent tract on November 13, 1985, or on the date when such land was first included within the Agricultural Zone. The right of further subdivision or establishment of principal uses shall also be included in the deed for the newly-created lot. If the designation of the right of further subdivision or establishment of principal uses was not included on a subdivision or land development plan of a parent tract, it shall be conclusively presumed that the largest lot remaining after subdivision shall carry the right of further subdivision or establishment of principal uses.
(9)
The number of lots which may be created or principal uses which may be established shall be fixed according to the size of the parent tract. This number shall not be increased by the subdivision of such parent tract. Any subsequent owner of a parent tract or land remaining in a parent tract after subdivision of land which was formerly part of a parent tract shall be bound by the actions of his predecessor.
F.
Lot area requirements.
(1)
Agricultural, horticultural and forestry uses. Ten acres minimum for uses existing on the effective date of this section (February 24, 1997); 20 acres minimum for uses established after the effective date of this section (February 24, 1997).
(2)
Single-family detached dwellings.
(a)
Minimum lot area shall be one acre, with a maximum lot size of two acres; however, the minimum lot area requirement may be reduced to 15,000 square feet if both public sewer and public water are utilized.
(b)
Where an applicant desires to subdivide an existing dwelling from the parent tract, the applicant may opt to impose the maximum lot area requirements of this Subsection F(2) upon such existing dwelling, rather than on a proposed dwelling which may be located on the remainder of the parent tract.
(c)
The minimum and maximum lot area requirements imposed by this section assume compliance with all PA DEP regulations pertaining to sewage disposal, and sewage disposal requirements in excess of the maximum lot area shall be provided through the use of plume easements over the remainder of the parent tract.
G.
Minimum lot width. One hundred feet at the front yard setback line and 60 feet at the street frontage.
H.
Minimum setbacks and maximum height requirements.
(1)
Agricultural, horticultural and forestry uses (other than farm dwellings).
(a)
Front yard setback: 50 feet.
(b)
Side yard setback: 50 feet on each side (100 feet total).
(c)
Rear yard setback: 50 feet.
(d)
Special setback requirements.
[1]
Except as provided for in the following subsection, area for the storage or processing of manure, garbage or spent mushroom compost, structures for the cultivation of mushrooms or the raising of commercial livestock, or any building housing commercial livestock shall not be permitted within 300 feet of any property line within any of the Residential Zones.
[2]
The Zoning Hearing Board may as a special exception, however, reduce the above special setback requirements where it is shown that, because of prevailing winds, unusual obstructions, topography or other conditions, a lesser distance would protect adjoining lands from odor, dust or other hazards. In no case, however, shall the Zoning Hearing Board reduce the special setback requirement to less than 100 feet. The burden shall be upon the applicant to prove that a lesser distance would not be detrimental to the health, safety and general welfare of the community.
(e)
These setbacks shall not apply to agricultural fences that are used to contain agricultural livestock. Such fences shall be set back a minimum of six feet from any adjoining street right-of-way lines.
(f)
Maximum permitted height. One hundred fifty feet provided all structures are set back a distance at least equal to their height from all property lines.
(2)
Single-family detached dwellings (including farm dwellings).
(a)
Single-family detached dwellings established before November 13, 1985.
[1]
Front yard setback. The appropriate minimum front yard setback set forth in § 340-14 of this chapter.
[2]
Side yard setbacks. The appropriate minimum side yard setbacks set forth in § 340-14 of this chapter.
(3)
Other permitted, special exception or conditional uses. Unless otherwise specified, the following requirements shall apply to all other principal uses permitted within the Agricultural Zone:
(4)
Residential accessory uses.
(a)
For any parcel where the principal use is a residential use established before November 13, 1985, the requirements set forth in § 340-14 of this chapter relating to front yard setback, side yard setbacks, rear yard setback and maximum permitted height for accessory uses shall apply.
(b)
Unless otherwise specified, for any parcel where the principal use is a residential use established on or after November 13, 1985, the following requirements shall apply:
(c)
Front yard setback. No accessory use (except roadside stands and permitted signs) shall be located within the front yard.
(d)
Side yard setbacks: 15 feet on each side (30 feet total).
(e)
Rear yard setback: 15 feet.
(f)
Maximum permitted height: 20 feet.
I.
Maximum lot coverage.
(1)
Agricultural, horticultural and forestry-related uses: 10%.
(3)
Churches and related uses and public and private schools.
[Added 11-19-2008 by Ord. No. 234[2]]
(a)
For those churches and related uses and public and private schools existing as of November 24, 2008, the maximum lot coverage shall be 50%.
(b)
For those churches and related uses and public and private schools established after November 24, 2008, the maximum lot coverage shall be 20%.
[2]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided for the redesignation of former Subsection I(3) as Subsection I(4).
(4)
Other uses (unless otherwise specified): 20%.
J.
Driveways and access drives. All driveways serving single-family dwellings shall be in accordance with § 340-33 of this chapter. All access drives serving other uses shall be in accordance with § 340-34 of this chapter. All lanes exclusively serving agricultural, horticultural and/or forestry-related activities shall be exempt from driveway and access drive requirements.
K.
All uses permitted within this zone shall also comply with the general provisions contained within Article III of this chapter.
L.
Agricultural nuisance disclaimer. All lands within or abutting the Agricultural Zone are located within an area where land is used for commercial agricultural production. Owners, residents and other users of this property may be subjected to inconvenience, discomfort and the possibility of injury to property and health arising from normal and accepted agricultural practices and operations including, but not limited to, noise, odors, dust, the operation of machinery of any kind including aircraft, the storage and disposal of manure, the application of fertilizers, soil amendments, herbicides and pesticides. Owners, occupants and users of this property should be prepared to accept such inconveniences, discomfort and possibility of injury from normal agricultural operations, and are hereby put on official notice that § 4 of the Pennsylvania Act 133 of 1982, the "Right to Farm Law," may bar them from obtaining a legal judgment against such normal agricultural operations.
M.
Agricultural setback requirement. On any separate nonfarm parcel, except on a parcel where the principal use is a residential use established before November 13, 1985, no shrub shall be planted and no accessory residential structure or fence shall be placed within 10 feet of any land used for agricultural purposes, and no tree shall be planted within 30 feet of any land used for agricultural purposes.
N.
Required conservation plan. Any agricultural, horticultural or forestry-related uses which involve earthmoving activities, or the commercial harvesting or timbering of vegetation, shall require the obtainment of an approved conservation plan by the Lancaster County Conservation District pursuant to Chapter 102, Erosion Control, of Title 25, Rules and Regulations, PA DEP. All onsite activities shall then be conducted in compliance with the approved conservation plan.
O.
No farming operation shall be conducted within a public right-of-way.
P.
All agricultural, horticultural and forestry uses shall be conducted so as to minimize the conveyance of stormwater off the site.