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Township of Bethlehem, PA
Northampton County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (4) Index
The purpose of this district is to:
A. 
Recognize areas of significant environmental sensitivity that should not be intensely developed.
B. 
Allow reasonable uses of these lands that would still result in a large proportion of the land remaining open.
C. 
Also recognize areas that would be very difficult to sewer and that are not adjacent to suitable roads.
D. 
Steer more intense development to districts that are closer to community facilities and services, are more naturally suited for development and are more easily served by public sewers.
E. 
Provide for a system of clustering that will steer development to the most accessible and environmentally suited portions of a tract.
F. 
Protect the water quality of surface waters.
Only the following uses are permitted by right in the CR District, provided that the requirements for specific uses of Article XX are met:
A. 
The following principal uses:
(1) 
Single-family detached dwelling.
(a) 
Mobile/manufactured home.[1]
[1]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-189.
(2) 
Crop farming.
(3) 
Golf course.[2]
[2]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-189.
(4) 
Swimming pool, public.
(5) 
Publicly owned recreation.
(6) 
Wildlife sanctuary.
(7) 
Cemetery.[3]
[3]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-189.
(8) 
Township-owned use.
(9) 
Nonhousehold stable.[4]
[4]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-189.
(10) 
Campground.[5]
[5]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-189.
(11) 
Plant nursery.[6]
[6]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-189.
(12) 
Picnic grove.[7]
[7]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-189.
(13) 
Membership club, including a boat club.
(14) 
Place of worship.[8]
[8]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-189.
(15) 
Group home.
B. 
The following accessory uses, within the requirements of § 275-190:
(1) 
No-impact home-based business.[9]
[Amended 12-20-2004 by Ord. No. 10-04]
[9]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-190.
(2) 
Accessory use or structure clearly customary and incidental to a permitted by right, approved special exception or conditional use.[10]
[10]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-190.
(3) 
Swimming pool, private.
(4) 
Recreational facilities limited to use by residents of a development and their occasional guests.
(5) 
Essential services.[11]
[11]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-190.
(6) 
Accessory use or structure permitted by § 275-190C.[12]
[12]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-190.
(7) 
Leaf composting.[13]
[13]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-190.
(8) 
Home occupation, minor.[14]
[Added 12-20-2004 by Ord. No. 10-04]
[14]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-190.
C. 
Planned residential development, within the requirements of Article XXIII.
Only the following uses are permitted by special exception in the CR District, provided that the requirements for specific uses of Article XX are met:
A. 
Home occupation, major.[1]
[Amended 12-20-2004 by Ord. No. 10-04]
[1]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-190.
B. 
Bed-and-breakfast use.[2]
[2]
Note: See additional requirements in § 275-190.
[Amended 3-15-1999 by Ord. No. 5-99]
Only the following use is a permitted conditional use in the CR District, provided that the requirements in Article XX are met:
A. 
Municipal sewage treatment plant.
B. 
Single-family cluster development, within Article XXII.
C. 
Campground, water-based recreational (see § 275-189).
Lot and setback regulations in the CR District shall be as follows, unless a more restrictive requirement is stated in Article XX for a particular use or elsewhere in this chapter. See definitions of these terms in Article II.
A. 
Minimum lot area. For any permitted use: two acres. See single-family cluster option in Article XXII, which permits smaller lots.
B. 
Minimum lot depth: 250 feet.
C. 
Minimum lot width: 250 feet.
D. 
Maximum lot coverage: 15% for buildings, 20% for total impervious surfaces.
E. 
Minimum front yard building setbacks, principal and accessory buildings: 75 feet.
F. 
Minimum side yard setback, principal and accessory buildings: 40 feet for each of two side yards.
G. 
Minimum rear yard setback, principal building: 75 feet; accessory building: 40 feet.
H. 
Minimum setback from expressways. The requirements of § 275-34H shall apply.
I. 
Maximum height: 3 1/2 stories or 35 feet, whichever is less.
J. 
Minimum principal building setback from industrial districts, for any dwelling, from any boundary of a GI, LI, LI(P) or OB District: 100 feet.
K. 
Impervious coverage across districts. If one lot crosses more than one district, the land within CR may be used to meet the requirements for minimum nonimpervious coverage for a use in another district, within the same lot.
A. 
Off-street parking. See Article XVII.
B. 
Signs. See Article XVIII.
C. 
Site plan review. See § 275-178, which requires a site plan review by the Planning Commission for most principal nonresidential uses.