Township of West Donegal, PA Article IX Rural (R) District

§ 240-32 Purpose.

[Amended 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 221-2015]

The primary purpose of the Rural (R) District is to promote a continuation of the rural character of the Township, characterized by farming, a mixture of sparsely developed residential areas, and other small-scale nonresidential uses which do not require infrastructure typically associated with higher-density development such as public water or public sewer. The Rural (R) District generally includes areas not possessing prime agricultural soils; nonetheless, its sparse development contributes to the Township's overall rural character.

§ 240-33 Permitted uses.

Permitted uses shall be as follows:

A. Any form of agriculture or horticulture and related buildings and uses subject to the provisions of Article VII.

B. Single-family detached dwellings.

C. Church and its related uses subject to the provisions of § 240-93.

D. Municipal uses, fire houses, and similar public buildings.

E. Schools and related school uses.

F. Public utility structures subject to the provisions of § 240-96.

G. Commercial communications antenna attached to an existing structure and meeting the requirements of § 240-105A.

H. Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to the above permitted uses, including no-impact home-based businesses subject to the provisions of § 240-91.

§ 240-34 Special exceptions.

[Amended 9-6-2011 by Ord. No. 189-2011; 7-8-2013 by Ord. No. 201-2013; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 221-2015]

The following uses are permitted when a special exception is granted by the Zoning Hearing Board after a public hearing. In granting any special exception, the Zoning Hearing Board may attach conditions to its approval which are necessary in order to preserve and protect the character of the district.

A. Airports subject to the following provisions:

(1) The minimum lot area shall be 25 acres.

(2) The applicant shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Bureau of Aviation of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and shall present evidence to the Zoning Hearing Board of compliance with all such regulations.

(3) The applicant shall obtain any required permit or permits from any other applicable federal, state, or county agency.

(4) The airport shall be so located and so designed so that no adjoining landowner will have building restrictions imposed upon such adjoining property unless the applicant presents evidence of the consent of any affected landowner to the imposition or potential imposition of such restrictions.

B. Cemetery, subject to the provisions of § 240-86.

C. Golf courses, including pro shops and restaurants clearly secondary and accessory thereto. All golf courses shall be subject to the following regulations:

(1) No building shall be located closer than 100 feet to any property line.

(2) Parking shall be provided in a sufficient amount to meet the needs of all golfers. Additional parking shall be provided for all accessory uses, such as pro shops or restaurants, in accordance with the requirements of Article XVI.

(3) The minimum lot area for golf courses shall be as follows:

	Course	Required Tract (acres)
	Regulation 18-hole	130
	Executive 18-hole	60
	9-hole	50
	Par 3 18-hole	45
	Par 3 9-hole	25

D. Disposal sites, subject to the provisions of § 240-109.

E. Home occupation, subject to the provisions of § 240-90.

F. Family/caregiver suite, subject to the provisions of § 240-115.6.

G. Accessory dwelling units, subject to the provisions of § 240-115.7.

H. Privately owned recreation areas for private profit, such as swimming pools, tennis courts subject to the provisions of § 240-95, campgrounds subject to the provisions of § 240-97, and riding clubs subject to the provisions of § 240-112.

I. Public or private recreation clubs and game clubs, subject to the provisions of § 240-95.

J. Bed-and-breakfast establishments, subject to the provisions of § 240-92.

K. The storage, processing, and sale of farm products, which are incidental to the principal use of the land for agricultural or horticultural production.

L. Commercial communications antennas and towers, subject to the provisions of § 240-105B.

M. Conversion of an existing structure to a mini-warehouse, subject to the provisions of § 240-103.

N. Kennels, and/or veterinary facilities, subject to the provisions of § 240-94.

O. Conversion of existing dwellings, subject to the provisions of § 240-83.

P. Noncommercial keeping of livestock, subject to the provisions of § 240-98.

Q. Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to the above permitted uses.

R. Large-scale wind energy production facility as a principal use, subject to the requirements of § 240-115.1.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection S, regarding rural heritage meeting centers, which immediately followed, was repealed 8-10-2020 by Ord. No. 239-2020.

§ 240-35 Conditional uses.

The following uses are permitted when a conditional use is granted by the Board of Supervisors after a public hearing. In granting any special exception, the Board may attach conditions to its approval which are necessary in order to preserve and protect the character of the district.

A. Open space development subject to the provisions of § 240-106.

§ 240-36 Design requirements of R District.

The Table of Design Requirements of R District is included at the end of the chapter.

§ 240-37 Supplemental height and yard requirements.

A. Height. An additional side yard setback of one foot shall be provided for every two feet or fraction thereof, increase in height above 35 feet.

§ 240-38 Height and yard requirements of accessory buildings.

A. Maximum height: 20 feet.

B. Front yard minimum depth. The minimum building setback line from all streets shall be that distance as required for principal buildings plus an additional 15 feet.

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 six feet.