Part 6: Natural Resource Protection, Open Space and Recreation Lands

[Ord. 690, 9/10/2009]

Any subdivision or land development may be undertaken only if it conforms to all zoning regulations as well as the environmental protection standards of this Part 6 and Chapter 27, Zoning, and the open space and recreation lands as required by Chapter 27, Zoning, and this Part 6. Site alterations, regrading, filling, or clearing of vegetation by a landowner or developer which would violate the following standards shall be a violation of this chapter. The developer shall determine the presence of environmental or natural features on the site and shall meet the following standards for environmental protection.

§ 22-602 Natural resource protection.

[Ord. 690, 9/10/2009; Ord. 726, 7/23/2015]

Floodplains. All identified floodplain areas shall meet the requirements of Chapter 9, Floodplain Management, of the Code of Warminster Township.

Steep slopes. In areas of steep slopes, the following standards shall apply:

Class 1: 8% to 15%; no more than 40% of such areas shall be developed, regraded or stripped of vegetation.

Class 2:15% to 25%; no more than 30% of such areas shall be developed, regraded or stripped of vegetation.

Class 3: 25% or more; no more than 15% of such area shall be developed, regraded or stripped of vegetation.

Woodlands. The following standards shall apply to woodlands.

Woodlands in environmentally sensitive areas. No more than 15% of woodlands located in environmentally sensitive areas shall be altered, regraded, cleared or built upon. Environmentally sensitive areas shall include floodplains, steep slopes, wetlands, wetland margins and riparian buffers.

Other woodland areas. No more than 30% of woodlands which are not located in environmentally sensitive areas (as defined above) shall be altered, regraded, cleared or built upon.

In addition to woodlands, any tree over 24 inches caliper shall be protected 100%, whether located within the woodland areas or standalone.

Lakes, ponds, wetlands or streams. Such areas shall not be altered, regraded, developed, filled, piped, diverted or built upon except that streams, watercourses, and wetlands may be crossed where design approval and permit are obtained from the Township, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where applicable.

Lake and pond shorelines shall be protected in accordance with riparian buffers.

Wetlands margins shall be protected in accordance with riparian buffers.

The permanent removal of topsoil from any parcel of land shall be prohibited, except as follows:

During actual construction on premises, that portion of the topsoil present which covers an area to be occupied by permanent structures or permanently located materials of an impervious nature or ponds and lakes may be considered excess, and may be removed by the owner.

During regrading operations conducted upon premises, whether or not carried on in conjunction with on-site construction, excess topsoil remaining after restoring proper topsoil cover to the areas of the parcel upon which regrading operations were conducted may be removed by the owner.

Riparian buffer. No land disturbance shall be permitted within any riparian buffer except as permitted below. The measurement of the riparian buffer shall extend a minimum of 100 feet from each defined edge of an identified watercourse or surface water body at bankfull flow or level, or shall equal the extent of the one-hundred-year floodplain, whichever is greater. The buffer area will consist of two distinct protection zones.

Zone 1: This buffer area will begin at the edge of the identified waterway (which includes wetlands and intermittent watercourses) and occupy a margin of land with a minimum width of 50 feet measured horizontally on a line perpendicular to the edge of water at bankfull flow.

(1)

Open space uses that are primarily passive in nature may be permitted in Zone 1, including:

(a)

Open space uses such as wildlife sanctuaries, nature preserves, forest preserves, fishing areas, passive areas for public or private parklands, and reforestation.

(b)

Customary agricultural practices in accordance with a soil conservation plan approved by the Bucks County Conservation District and a nutrient management plan in accordance with state requirements, if applicable.

(c)

Regulated activities permitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Township for stream or wetland crossing or other encroachment (i.e., farm vehicle and livestock, recreational trails, roads, sewer or water lines, and utility transmission lines), provided that any disturbance is offset by riparian corridor improvements as approved by the Township.

(d)

Vegetation management in accordance with streambank stabilization plan, an approved landscape or open space management plan.

(2)

Runoff or wastewater to be buffered or filtered by Zone 1 will be limited to sheet flow or subsurface flow only. Concentrated flows must be converted to sheet flow or subsurface flows prior to entering Zone 1.

Zone 2: This buffer zone will begin at the outer edge of Zone 1 and occupy a minimum width of 50 feet in addition to Zone 1. However, where the width of the one-hundred-year floodplain extends greater than 100 feet from the waterway, Zone 1 shall remain a minimum of 50 feet and Zone 2 shall extend from the outer edge of Zone 1 to the outer edge of the one-hundred-year floodplain.

(1)

Uses permitted in this buffer area include open space uses that are primarily passive in nature, including:

(a)

Open space uses such as wildlife sanctuaries, nature preserves, forest preserves, passive areas for public or private parklands, recreational trails and reforestation.

(b)

Customary agricultural practices in accordance with a soil conservation plan approved by the Bucks County Conservation District.

(c)

(d)

Recreational activities or uses not involving impervious surfaces such as ball fields or golf courses.

(e)

Naturalized stormwater management facilities, provided the entire facility is located a minimum of 50 feet from the defined edge of the identified watercourse and situated outside the one-hundred-year floodplain.

Prohibited uses. Any use or activity not authorized within Subsection 8A or B above shall be prohibited within the riparian buffer. The following activities and facilities are specifically prohibited:

(1)

Clear cutting of trees and other vegetation.

(2)

Selective cutting of trees and/or the clearing of other vegetation, except where such clearing is necessary to prepare land for a use permitted under Subsection 8A or B above or where removal is necessary as a means to eliminate dead, diseased or hazardous trees. Removal is subject to revegetation by native plants that are most suited to the riparian corridor.

(3)

Storage of any hazardous or noxious materials.

(4)

Roads or driveways, except as permitted as corridor crossings by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Township.

(5)

Parking lots.

(6)

Subsurface sewage disposal areas.

Revegetation of riparian area. In cases where a major subdivision or land development is proposed, replanting of the riparian corridor shall be required where there is little or no existing streamside vegetation. Native vegetation approved by the Township must be used in replanting efforts. Three layers of vegetation are required when replanting the riparian corridor. These layers include herbaceous plants that serve as ground cover, understory shrubs, and trees that form an overhead canopy. The revegetation plan shall be prepared by a qualified professional such as a landscape architect or engineer and shall comply with the following minimum requirements, unless modified by the Board of Supervisors upon recommendation of the Planning Commission:

(1)

Ground cover. Ground cover consisting of a native seed mix extending a minimum of 25 feet in width from the edge of the streambank must be provided along the portion(s) of the stream corridor where little or no riparian vegetation exists. Appropriate ground cover includes native herbs and forbs exclusive of noxious weeds as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. This twenty-five-foot wide planted area shall be designated on the plan as a "no mow zone" and shall be left as natural cover except in accordance with the maintenance instructions stated on the plan.

(2)

Trees and shrubs. These planting layers include trees that form an overhead canopy and understory shrubs. Overstory trees are deciduous or evergreen trees that include oak, hickory, maple, gum, beech, sycamore, hemlock, pine and fir. Evergreen and deciduous shrubs should consist of elderberry, viburnum, azalea, rhododendron, holly, laurel and alders. These plants shall be planted in an informal manner clustered within Zone 1 of the riparian buffer as indicated in Subsection 8A above. These plants shall be provided at a rate of at least one overstory tree and three shrubs for every 20 linear feet of waterway.

(3)

Exceptions. These planting requirements shall not apply to existing farm fields located within the riparian buffer if farming operations are to be continued and the required nutrient management plan is met.

§ 22-603 Open space.

[Ord. 690, 9/10/2009]

Open space design standards. Chapter 27, Zoning, requires several different uses to provide a minimum amount of open space. All open space shall comply with the following standards:

Areas of open space shall have a minimum dimension of 75 feet in any direction, in order to be considered as part of the minimum open space requirement.

Areas occupied by buildings; easements; roads or road rights-of-way; lot area or yards associated with any dwelling unit; and parking areas shall not be included as a part of the required open space.

Stormwater management facilities may be included in the minimum required open space subject to the provisions of Chapter 27, Zoning, and the approval of the Board of Supervisors. Stormwater management facilities located in open space shall not exceed 25% of the required open space and shall represent features in keeping with the nature of the open space (wet ponds, bioretention areas, constructed wetlands, etc.).

Accessways to open space that are located between or adjacent to residential lots or dwelling units shall be delineated with landscaping (i.e. the planting of trees, hedgerows, and/or shrubs) and/or a four-foot high fence. Such delineation shall be subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors.

Open space shall be connected with abutting open space land on adjacent parcels, where applicable. Likewise, natural resource protection areas and recreation areas shall be connected, where feasible.

Open space areas shall also be connected via recreational trails, bikeways, and/or greenways so as to provide a continuous network of paths linking open space areas throughout the Township.

Open space management plan. An open space management plan shall be submitted along with the preliminary plan for any subdivision or land development that contains open space land, including but not limited to open space, recreation land, riparian buffers, landscape buffers, and/or stormwater management facilities. The plan shall be written to fully inform those responsible for the care and maintenance of the open space land of those responsibilities and how to fulfill them. The plan shall include the following:

A narrative describing ownership, use, and maintenance responsibilities shall be submitted for all open space land. The narrative shall include:

(1)

The location of each area of open space land.

(2)

The characteristics of the land.

(3)

The intended use and the category of open space land.

(4)

Tasks that will be needed on a regular basis to control invasive species of plants and to promote a varied habitat for plant and wildlife.

(5)

Who will be responsible for the maintenance of the open space land in both the short term and the long term.

(6)

The proposed ownership of the various areas of open space land in accordance with Chapter 27, Zoning.

A detailed program for the necessary regular and periodic operation and maintenance for each category of open space land such as listed above. The program shall include schedules for mowing, fertilizing, pruning of shrubbery and trees, applying mulch to planting beds and around trees, irrigation, application of pesticides and herbicides, control of invasive plants, leaf removal, removal of debris and litter, trash collection, and any other activity necessary to properly maintain the open space land. It shall also address the planting and care of annuals and perennials in planting beds, where applicable.

A program for the care of all new plant material in buffer yards, recreation areas, and other landscaped areas until the plants are established and for the replacement of plant material that does not survive.

A program and schedule for the long-term care of the various categories of open space land that addresses maintenance activities that occur annually or less often.

Appropriate and recommended programs and schedules for the maintenance of natural areas such as wetlands, riparian buffers, and woodlands.

The specification of who will be responsible for implementing all aspects of the maintenance program.

An estimate of the staffing needs, insurance requirements, and associated costs, and defining the means for funding the maintenance of the open space and any recreation facilities on an ongoing basis. Such funding plan shall include the means for funding long-term capital improvements, as well as regular annual operating, maintenance, and capital reserve costs.

§ 22-604 Recreational facilities.

[Ord. 690, 9/10/2009; Ord. No. 778, 12/5/2024]

Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

Components, equipment, graded fields, structures, or other improvements that satisfy minimum design and performance criteria. All recreational facilities must conform to the Township Playground Code where appropriate.

RECREATIONAL LANDS

Areas within a subdivision or land development that are set aside, designed, and constructed for the express purpose of providing recreational facilities for that subdivision or land development. Recreational lands may be part of required open space, in accordance with Chapter 27, Zoning, and as referenced in § 22-602, but may not include any residential lot areas, street rights-of-way, stormwater management areas or utility rights-of-way. Recreational lands shall not include narrow or irregular pieces of land that serve no recreational function or are remnants from the plotting of lots, streets and/or parking areas.

General requirements.

Recreational lands shall comprise a minimum of 25% of required open space as specified in Chapter 27, Zoning, unless waived by the Board of Supervisors.

Areas set aside for recreational purposes shall be reasonably compact parcels, placed to serve all parts of the subdivision or land development, accessible from a public street.

Playgrounds for active sports shall be of adequate size to provide sufficient area for proposed uses and associated improvements, including but not necessarily limited to parking and stormwater management.

The recreation facilities shall be constructed on recreational lands as appropriate to the proposed use. Subdivisions/land developments that are required to provide open space/recreational lands per Chapter 27, Zoning, shall provide one or more of the following classes of recreational facilities as recommended by the Planning Commission:

(1)

Playgrounds.

(2)

Village greens.

(3)

Basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts.

(4)

Shuffleboard and bocce courts.

(5)

Soccer and lacrosse goals.

Gazebos.

Skate parks.

Recreational fields.

Recreational trails.

Fitness trails.

Backstops.

Pavilions.

Community centers.

Recreational facilities and lands shall be centrally located and readily accessible to all residents of the subdivision/land development.

Recreation lands shall be configured to accommodate all the recreation facilities and activities proposed by the subdivisions/land development plans. The recreation lands shall be improved so that they are usable for the intended activity, including the installation of necessary facilities and equipment. All proposed improvements, including facilities and equipment, must be approved by the Township.

Recreational facilities shall not be traversed by utility easements or rights-of-way unless said utilities are placed underground and no part of them or their supportive equipment protrudes above ground level.

Adequate buffering/fencing shall be constructed to separate recreational lands and/or facilities from adjoining properties.

Recreational lands and facilities shall be owned, maintained, and preserved in accordance with § 22-603 above and Chapter 27, Zoning. Recreational lands and/or facilities to be dedicated to the Township shall meet the requirements of Use 13, Public recreation facility, as described in § 27-1615 of Chapter 27, Zoning. At a minimum, such lands or facilities shall include parking spaces for that particular facility, at a rate of three spaces per playground, 10 spaces per recreational field, and three spaces near each trail head or destination point. All parking areas for a recreation facility shall be located a maximum 50 feet from that facility.

Signage. All recreational facilities shall post signs alerting users to the proper age group for the facilities, and where necessary, proper use of and/or restrictions for the facilities.

Recreational lands and facilities shall have access to public roadways and be provided with safe and direct access to the facilities for emergency and maintenance vehicles.

Design standards for facilities. The following subsections provide design standards for types of recreational facilities and recommended number and class of facilities where such are required within subdivisions/land developments.

Playgrounds.

(1)

A minimum of 100 square feet per dwelling unit shall be planned and constructed as a playground. This requirement does not apply to dwelling units in CCRC, CCRC2 or AQC Zoning Districts. In no case will a playground be less than 2,000 square feet in size.

(2)

All dwelling units must be within 1,000 feet walking distance from the perimeter of at least one playground within the subdivision/land development.

(3)

Playgrounds, their equipment, components, and surfacing shall comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Township Playground Code, and meet all ASTM Standards for Playground Design.

(4)

Each residential subdivision/land development is required to provide playgrounds incorporating play structures in accordance with the following Table:

Dwelling Units	Ratio of Components to Dwelling Units	Preferred Configuration
4 to 17	N/A — applicant must provide 6 components	Applicant must provide a 6-component structure
18 to 50	1:3	8-component structures
51 to 150	1:3	8- or 12-component structures
151 and up	1:3	Applicant must provide a 20-component main structure plus additional 8- and 12-component structures as needed

(5)

Components of playground equipment may include the following: slides, climbers, tunnels, cyclers, swings, spring riders, seesaws, and overhead exercise events. Bridges, ramps, enclosures, and panels only count as 0.5 of a component for the purposes of fulfilling the component requirement. Roofs and decks do not count toward fulfilling the component requirement.

(6)

Use of the playgrounds shall be limited to daylight hours only. No lighting shall be installed, unless deemed necessary for safety and security by the Township.

(7)

Every playground shall be enclosed by a gated fence, four feet tall, constructed of wooden, unpointed pickets. Gates shall be self-closing and self-latching. A landscaped buffer shall be provided around the outside of the fence a minimum of 10 feet in width. The buffer shall consist of canopy trees positioned to adequately provide shade over the play structure and its surroundings. Ground-cover plantings shall be installed to permanently cover the ground to eliminate excess maintenance. Clear sight lines into and out of the playground area shall be maintained between a height of two feet and seven feet above grade for security. In no circumstance will evergreen trees or shrubs be allowed within or around the play structure or fencing. Plantings installed around play areas shall not attract wildlife.

(8)

Seats and/or benches shall be provided along the perimeter of the playground. A drinking fountain connected to a potable water supply and a waste receptacle shall be located within the playground. A four-slot bike rack shall be located adjacent to, but outside of, the playground fence.

(9)

Minimum dimensional criteria will be as follows:

(a)

Minimum area: 2,000 square feet within the fence.

(b)

Minimum horizontal dimension: 35 feet.

(c)

Minimum setbacks:

From lot lines and right-of-way lines of local streets: 25 feet.

From the ultimate right-of-way lines of collectors and arterials: 50 feet.

Recreational fields.

(1)

A minimum of 1,000 square feet per dwelling unit must be planned and constructed as recreational fields.

(2)

Recreational fields shall be used only during daylight hours. No lighting shall be installed.

(3)

Recreational fields are intended for informal, neighborhood use. Recreational fields shall not be used for formalized programs such as Little League baseball, youth soccer, midget football, etc., unless they meet the requirements of Use 13, Public recreation facility, as described in § 27-1615 of Chapter 27, Zoning, and are located, designed, and intended for use by the entire Township.

(4)

Recreational fields shall consist of a lawn area, unobstructed by trees, shrubs, benches, playground equipment or other obstructions. Recreational fields shall be planted with special turf grass mixtures to accommodate the intended use and wear. Trees and shrubs shall be installed along the perimeter of a recreational field to define its limits, enhance its appearance, and filter noise generated by activities. Individual planting schemes for recreational fields may vary from location to location, but a minimum of one large tree and four shrubs or hedges for every 50 feet of recreational field border shall be installed.

(5)

Recreational fields shall be not less than 1% nor more than 1.5% grade and shall be well-drained so that they are suitable for use in good weather.

(6)

Fences.

(a)

Recreational fields must be fenced whenever the edge of a field is within 50 feet of any of the following:

Stormwater management facilities.

Playgrounds.

Slopes exceeding 8%.

Wetlands, watercourses, riparian buffers, lakes, and/or ponds.

Other locations as may be determined by the Township.

(b)

The fence provided must be eight feet high, nonpointed. Gates or passageways must be provided at the mid-point of each proposed fence run.

(7)

Seats and/or benches shall be provided along the perimeter of all recreation fields. Bike racks shall be provided adjacent to, but not within, the recreational field area. A minimum of six slots per recreational field is required.

(8)

All recreational fields must meet the following minimum criteria:

(a)

Minimum area: 20,000 square feet.

(b)

Minimal horizontal dimension: 125 feet.

(c)

Minimum setbacks to the edge of playfield:

From any dwelling unit: 100 feet.

From any property line: 50 feet.

From the ultimate right-of-way of local streets and alleyways: 50 feet.

From the ultimate right-of-way of collector/arterial streets: 100 feet.

Village green.

(1)

All dwelling units must be within 1,500 feet walking distance from the perimeter of at least one village green within the subdivision/land development. A village green shall be located in the approximate center of the group of dwellings it serves within the subdivision/land development. The dwelling units shall be located in a radial pattern extending out from the village green.

(2)

All dwelling units abutting a village green must front and face the village green. Dwelling units located along a street abutting a village green must front and face the village green.

(3)

Village greens shall not be less than 1% nor more than 3% grade and shall be well-drained.

(4)

Village greens shall have trees planted along their perimeter in accordance with the street tree requirements of this chapter.

(5)

A minimum of 50% of the perimeter of a village green shall abut a street. Sidewalks shall be provided along all streets fronting a village green.

(6)

Pavilions and gazebos may be located in the village green.

(7)

Individual village greens shall be sized variably in accordance with the following table:

Lots	Minimum Area of Village Green per Lot (square feet)	Minimum Dimension in Any Direction (feet)
25th to 74th	600	125
75th to 150th	500	150
151st and up	400	200

Recreational trails.

(1)

Recreational trails include pedestrian paths and nature trails. Recreational trails provide pedestrian access and recreational opportunities within and/or around a site. Recreational trails are different from, fulfill different needs, and may be required in addition to sidewalks which may be required by other sections of this chapter.

(2)

Recreational trails shall be coordinated with and linked to the multiuse trail network approved by Warminster Township Parks and Recreation.

(3)

The required minimum length of the recreational trail shall equal the total front footage of the subdivision/land development. The total front footage is the total length of all the street frontages within and/or abutting the subdivision/land development, including frontage along existing streets, as measured at the street line. The total front footage of lane lots shall be measured at the point where the minimum required lot width to provide a front yard setback is satisfied. If the average lot size within the subdivision/land development exceeds two acres per lot, then the required minimum trail length shall be 0.5 the total front footage of the subdivision/land development. Farmland tracts with no existing or proposed dwellings may be excluded from the total front footage calculation.

(4)

Recreational trails shall be constructed within a fifteen-foot wide easement or right-of-way. The Township may, but shall not be required to, accept the trail and right-of-way for dedication.

(5)

All recreational trails shall be a minimum of six feet in width and shall be constructed with six inches of crushed stone base course topped by two inches of ID-2 wearing course. The crushed stone shall extend a minimum of two feet beyond the pavement on each side per Warminster Township Specifications and Design Standards. The use of pervious materials for recreational trails is encouraged.

(6)

All topsoil removed during the construction of a recreational trail must be kept on site and redistributed throughout the rest of the subdivision/land development.

(7)

Low spots shall be avoided. Where recreational trails cross watercourses or swales, drainage pipes or footbridges shall be designed and installed to carry runoff and storm flows in accordance with driveway pipe design criteria of § 22-521. Such drainage pipes must be designed to convey the ten-year frequency storm without being overtopped. If the drainage through the low spot exceeds 10 cubic feet per second for the ten-year storm, a footbridge shall be used to cross the low spot. Design approval must be obtained through the Township and any applicable agencies.

(8)

Recreational trails shall be signed in accordance with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and PennDOT signage criteria regarding location and types of signage.

(9)

Recreational trails may be laid out within the required open space. Recreation trails also may be located along the perimeter of stormwater management areas located in open space and may coexist with resource protected areas or easements.

(10)

Recreational trails may be located within the right-of-way of streets, but only as a connection between an interior trail within required open space and other recreational trails located off site or in order to cross a street or to connect to sidewalks. Only 50 feet of the recreational trail located within the right-of-way of a street may be credited toward meeting the minimum length requirements for recreational trails set forth in this section. The location of recreational trails within the right-of-way of a street shall be subject to approval by the Township.

(11)

Any proposed recreational trail system shall conform to the following design criteria:

(a)

Maximum grade: 10%.

(b)

Minimum center-line radii: 15 feet; 60 feet for bikeways.

(c)

Minimum overhead clearance from trail: 8 feet.

(d)

Minimum center line sight distance: 60 feet; 130 feet for bikeways.

(12)

Painted crosswalks shall be provided at intersections between trails and/or sidewalks located on opposite sides of the street and/or where a trail/sidewalk ends on one side of a street and another trail/sidewalk starts on the opposite side of the street.

Optional facilities for residential subdivisions/land developments. In addition to the facilities described above, applicants may also design and install optional recreational facilities of their choosing, in accordance with the calculations derived in this subsection. For each proposed dwelling unit that is of a particular type, the applicant will be charged the number of option points associated with that particular type of dwelling. The total number of option points for any particular subdivision/land development is the cumulative total of all the option points for all the proposed dwellings within that subdivision/land development. Each class of optional facility has been assigned an option credit value. The total number of option credits for any particular subdivision/land development is the cumulative total of the option credits for all the optional recreational facilities proposed to be installed in the subdivision/land development. The applicant must install enough optional recreational facilities so that the total option credits for the subdivision/land development equal or exceed the total option points for the subdivision/land development.

Total option points calculation sheet. This sheet shall be filled out completely and submitted with all applications for land development and/or subdivision approval that propose optional recreational facilities. The applicant shall use this sheet to calculate the total number of option points created by the proposed subdivision/land development.

Class of Unit	Unit	Points per Unit
Single-family dwelling	Dwelling unit	4
Two-family dwelling	Dwelling unit	3
Multifamily dwelling	Bedroom	1
Townhouse	Dwelling unit	3.5
Total option points

Total option credits calculation sheet. This sheet shall be filled out completely and submitted with all applications for land development and/or subdivision approval that propose optional recreational facilities. The applicant shall use this sheet to determine what optional recreational facilities shall be installed as a part of the proposed subdivision/land development. The total number of option credits must be greater than or equal to the total number of option points as calculated under Subsection 4A above. No more than 33% of the total number of option points may be used up by the installation of any one class of optional recreational facilities.

Class	Unit	Points per Unit
Basketball/tennis/ volleyball court	Each	40
Shuffleboard/bocce court	Each	20
Backstops	Each	20
Soccer goals	Pair of goals	20
Lacrosse goals	Pair of goals	10
Pavilion	1,000 square feet	40
Gazebo	100 square feet	35
Community/center	1,000 square feet	70
Fitness trail	Station	15
Skate park	1,000 square feet	60
Total option credits

Design specifications for optional facilities.

(1)

Basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, shuffleboard courts, and bocce courts shall be constructed in accordance with standards and details of respective sporting organization to provide state-of-the-art, safe facilities per current technologies. (NCAA, National Recreation and Park Association, etc.).

(2)

Skate parks shall be a minimum of 3,000 square feet in area, and shall consist of permanent or modular construction as available by Skatewave Modular Skatepark Systems or approved equal, and applicable design standards from International Inline Skating Association (IISA), as appropriate.

(3)

Gazebos shall be a minimum of 200 square feet in area and constructed of wood.

(4)

Pavilions shall be a minimum of 1,000 square feet in area, shall be ADA compliant, and shall include a ten-slot bike rack, waste receptacle, and drinking fountain. Each pavilion shall provide rest room facilities with keylock entry, and a utility room.

(5)

Community centers shall be a minimum of 4,000 square feet of enclosed space, centrally located to the rest of the subdivision/land development. Design, style and layout of community centers may vary widely, but in general, the center's exterior shall be constructed of wood, stone, or brick, and contain open activity areas, kitchen facilities, separate indoor-access rest room facilities, and utility and storage rooms. Parking shall be in accordance with Chapter 27, Zoning, requirements.

(6)

Backstops, soccer goals, and lacrosse goals shall be provided in accordance with standards and details of respective sporting organization and target users. For each backstop or set of goals, there shall be provided an area of sufficient size and configuration for at least high school players aligned along a north-northwest axis in accordance with NCAA standards. This minimum area may be part of the required recreational field as required under § 22-604, Subsection 3B. Although backstop fields, soccer fields, and lacrosse fields may overlap for multi-use applications, the area may only be counted in one category to fulfill the requirements of this section.

(a)

Baseball field: 200 feet by 200 feet.

(b)

Softball field: 150 feet by 150 feet.

(c)

Soccer field: 195 feet by 330 feet.

(d)

Lacrosse field: 180 feet by 330 feet.

(e)

All fields shall be designed in accordance with NCAA standards for high school fields and be provided with appropriate accessories to insure full usage of the facility.

Nonresidential subdivisions and developments.

All subdivisions/land developments proposing a total gross floor area greater than 20,000 square feet within any nonresidential district, and any subdivisions/land developments proposing nonresidential uses in any zoning district shall meet the following requirements.

(1)

Recreational trails shall be provided throughout the interior of the subdivision/land development. Except as provided below, these trails shall not fulfill any applicable sidewalk requirement nor shall sidewalks fulfill any part of this requirement for recreational trails.

(2)

The required minimum length of the recreational shall equal the total front footage of the subdivision/land development or the total length of the perimeter of required stormwater management facilities, whichever is greater. The total front footage is the total length of all the street frontages within and/or abutting the subdivision/land development, including frontage along existing streets, as measured at the street line. The total front footage of a lane lots shall be measured at the point where the minimum required lot width to provide a front yard setback is satisfied.

(3)

At a minimum, trails shall be provided along the perimeter of the stormwater management facilities and shall be connected to the areas of the subdivision/land development that experience heaviest pedestrian use via some type of pedestrianway. The actual length of the recreational trails may be much greater than the required minimum length depending upon the location of stormwater facilities and the connection method between those facilities and other pedestrian areas within the subdivision/land development.

(4)

Subdivisions/land developments in commercial zoning districts may use sidewalks to meet their recreational trail requirement. In this instance, the width of the sidewalk shall be increased to a minimum of six feet, and may be increased as determined by the Township. No recreational trails shall be required throughout the interior of the subdivision/land development.

(5)

All recreation trails shall conform to design criteria listed in § 22-604, Subsection 3D, of this chapter.

§ 22-605 Natural resource protection, open space, and recreation land fee in lieu.

[Ord. No. 778, 12/5/2024]

Where the Board of Supervisors agrees with the developer that, because of the size, shape, location, access, topography or other physical features of the land, it is impractical to set aside land for natural resource protection, open space, and/or recreational land as required by this chapter, the Supervisors shall require payment of fee in lieu of the provision of such land, which shall be payable to the Township before the recording of the approved final plan or as determined by the Board of Supervisors.

The minimum fee amount shall be specified in the schedule of fees adopted by resolution by the Board of Supervisors.

All monies paid to the Township pursuant to this chapter shall be kept in a capital reserve fund. Monies in such fund shall be used only for the acquisition, emergency maintenance, or capital improvements of natural resource protection, open space, and/or recreation lands/facilities within the Township.