The purpose of this zoning district is to protect and stabilize
general agriculture as an ongoing economic activity in the West Manheim
Township area by encouraging those land uses and activities which
are agricultural in nature or act in direct support thereof. This
district also seeks to discourage development from occurring on productive
farmlands, including those designated as "prime" and those which are
conducive to high crop yields. Also, this zoning district protects
agriculture from incompatible uses that may also interfere with normal
and customary agricultural practices within that zoning district.
The Farming Zoning District also minimizes the amount of land consumed
for nonagricultural purposes by encouraging nonagricultural development
to occur on small parcels. The zoning district provides for the continuation
of agribusiness operations within West Manheim Township by requiring
design standards for agribusiness operations and by requiring setbacks
between agribusiness and residential uses. Finally, this zoning district
seeks to retain the core area of farmland in West Manheim Township
that strongly contributes to the rural character of the Township.
Permitted uses are as follows:
A. Agricultural and forestry uses.
(3) Greenhouse or horticultural nursery (§
270-138);
(4) Nature preserve and wildlife sanctuary; and
B. Residential uses.
(1) Single-family detached dwelling; and
C. Public and semipublic uses.
D. Commercial uses.
(4) Non-tower WCF that do not substantially change the dimensions of the underlying wireless support structure (§
270-125).
[Added 11-19-2019 by Ord. No. 3-2019]
E. Institutional uses.
(1) Club room, club ground and meeting hall (§
270-124).
F. Accessory and temporary uses.
(1) Uses customarily incidental to the above permitted uses;
(5) No-impact home occupation (definition in §
270-13);
[Amended 10-2-2014 by Ord. No. 1-2014]
(6) Noncommercial keeping of livestock (§
270-103);
(8) Swimming pool, household or private (§
270-94); and
Special exception uses are as follows:
B. Public and semipublic uses.
Conditional uses are as follows:
B. Agricultural and forestry uses.
C. Commercial uses.
[Amended 11-19-2019 by Ord. No. 3-2019; 6-1-2023 by Ord. No. 2-2023]
(3) Communications antenna, tower, and equipment building (§
270-125);
D. Industrial uses.
(1) Mineral extraction or recovery operation (§
270-151); and
E. Accessory and temporary uses.
[Amended 6-1-2023 by Ord. No. 2-2023]
The following area regulations shall apply in this district:
Dimensional Criteria
|
All Uses
|
---|
Minimum lot area (acre)
|
1 acre
|
Maximum lot area (acres)
|
2 acres1,2 and 3
|
Minimum lot width (feet)
|
200
|
Maximum building height (stories/feet)
|
2.5 stories or 35 feet
|
Maximum lot coverage (percent)
|
20%
|
|
Lot Size
|
---|
Dimensional Criteria
|
Less Than or Equal to 1 Acre
|
Greater Than 1 Acre to Less Than or Equal to 2 Acres
|
Greater Than 2 Acres
|
---|
Front setback (feet)
|
40
|
40
|
40
|
Side setback (feet)
|
10
|
20
|
30
|
Rear setback (feet)
|
25
|
25
|
40
|
NOTES:
|
---|
1
|
Where more than two acres are needed to meet the driveway, on-site
sewer, or water systems requirements, the Township may waive this
requirement, provided that the minimum additional area is used to
meet the requirements of such on-site systems.
|
2
|
The creation of lots larger than the maximum lot size for any principal nonagricultural and nonforestry use provided in §§ 270-43, 270-44 and 270-45 may be permitted if additional development allotments remaining from the parent parcel existing on July 12, 2005, are used to create such an "oversized" lot. One allotment shall be used for each two acres or part thereof by which the lot exceeds the maximum lot size of two acres.
|
3
|
The creation of lots containing 10 to 20 acres for any principal use provided in §§ 270-43, 270-44 and 270-45 shall be permitted in accordance with § 270-47A(1). One allotment shall be used for each lot created containing 10 to 20 acres. Each lot created under this provision shall be restricted from future development in accordance with § 270-47C.
|
Agricultural nuisance disclaimer. All lands within or abutting
the Farming Zone are located within an area where land is used for
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 Section 4 of Pennsylvania
Act 133 of 1982, the Right to Farm Law, may bar them from obtaining a legal judgment against such
normal agricultural operations.