District regulations are of two types, use regulations and development
standards, which shall apply to any proposed new use, expansion of
an existing use or change of use of any land or structure.
A. Use regulations. District use regulations are provided in the following
Schedule of Uses.
(1) Limitations.
(a)
No land and no structure in a particular zoning district shall
be used for any use which is not specifically listed on the Schedule
of Uses for that particular district, and only in accord with all
other requirements of this chapter. In other words, any use not specifically
allowed by this chapter within a zoning district shall be deemed to
be prohibited within that zoning district.
(b)
If a use which could be included in a more general use is listed
as a separate use in any District Schedule of Uses, such use shall
be permitted only in the district where it is specifically listed.
(c)
Larger lot sizes, greater setbacks, buffers and other more restrictive
standards may be required by other provisions of this chapter.
(2) Principal permitted uses and accessory uses.
(a)
Zoning Officer. Permits for principal permitted uses and accessory
uses shall be issued by the Zoning Officer, provided such uses comply
with the standards in this chapter.
(b)
Site plan review. Certain uses as designated on the Schedule of Uses in this Subsection
A require site plan approval in accord with §
400-121C(9).
(3) Conditional uses and special exceptions. Conditional uses and special
exceptions are permitted uses which require individual consideration
because of their special characteristics and are referred to the Planning
Commission for review and preparation of a recommendation to the Board
of Supervisors and Zoning Hearing Board, respectively. Following a
public hearing, and based on its determination that the proposed use
meets the standards of this chapter, the Board of Supervisors for
conditional uses and the Zoning Hearing Board for special exceptions
may approve the issuance of a zoning permit by the Zoning Officer.
(4) Prohibited uses. Any use not allowed as a principal permitted use, accessory use, conditional use or special exception, or allowed by the Zoning Hearing Board in accord with Subsection
B within a particular zoning district, shall be deemed to be prohibited within that zoning district.
B. Uses not specified in schedule of uses.
(1) Jurisdiction. Whenever a use is not specifically allowed in any of
the various zoning districts established under this chapter (i.e.,
not specifically allowed anywhere in the Township) and an application
is made to the Zoning Officer for such use, the application shall
be submitted to the Zoning Hearing Board which shall have the authority
to permit the use or deny the use as a special exception.
(2) Findings. The use may be permitted only if the Zoning Hearing Board
makes all of the following findings; and, the burden of proof shall
be upon the applicant:
(a)
The use is similar to and compatible with the uses listed for
the subject zoning district by the Schedule of Use Regulations.
(b)
The use in no way conflicts with the intent of the zoning district
and the general purpose and intent of this chapter.
(c)
The use is not permitted in any other zoning district.
(3) Planning Commission review. At the time the application is submitted
to the Zoning Hearing Board, the Zoning Officer shall also provide
a copy to the Township Planning Commission for its recommendation.
The Zoning Hearing Board shall not conduct a public hearing on the
application until the comments from the Planning Commission are received
or 30 days have passed from the time the application was referred
to the Planning Commission.
(4) Conditions. The Zoning Hearing Board may attach reasonable conditions
and safeguards to any special exception approval granted for a use
not specified in the Schedule of Uses, incorporating standards in
this chapter for similar uses in the district and such other conditions
as the Zoning Hearing Board may deem necessary to protect and promote
the public health, safety, morals and welfare and to implement the
purposes of this chapter and the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning
Code.
C. Development standards. The Schedule of Development Standards which follows establishes minimum standards for lot area;
lot depth, lot width and front, side and rear setbacks; and establishes
maximum standards for building height and building and lot coverage.
Larger lot sizes, increased setbacks and other more restrictive standards
may be required in accord with other chapter sections.
D. Subdividing and developing. Any area divided into parcels or developed according to the definition of subdivision and land development in Article
III shall also be subject to Chapter
355, Subdivision and Land Development.
E. Accessory uses permitted in all districts unless otherwise restricted
by this chapter. See I-A Schedule of Uses for the I-A District.
(1) Accessory uses customary to approved uses.
(2) Barns, silos, sheds, and similar agricultural buildings.
(14)
No-impact home occupations.
(16)
Parking areas accessory to approved uses.
(17)
Satellite dish antennas or satellite antennas.
(19)
Signs accessory to approved uses.
(22)
Wind turbine generators (not permitted in R-3 District).
(23)
Yard, lawn, garage, tag or estate sale.