Township of North Newton, PA R-1 Rural Residential Zoning District

The purpose of the R-1 Rural Residential Zoning District is to preserve the agricultural character of the region while providing for low-density residential development opportunities.

§ 300-27 Permitted uses by right.

Agricultural operation, including crop and tree farming, raising, keeping and breeding livestock, poultry, rabbits, goats and similar animals, but specifically excluding intensive agricultural operations.

Horticulture, plant nurseries, greenhouses and beekeeping.

Aquaculture and fisheries.

Single-family detached dwelling.

Group home (see § 300-102).

Natural areas, wildlife refuge, parks, greenways.

Forestry (see § 300-98).

Cemetery (see § 300-90).

Solar energy systems, accessory (see § 300-129).

Municipal uses including public recreation facilities and public utilities (see § 300-115).

§ 300-28 Accessory uses.

The following uses and buildings incidental to any permitted uses shall be permitted:

Uses and structures which are customarily associated with the permitted uses such as storage buildings, outdoor storage areas, parking areas and garages.

Home occupations (see § 300-106).

Child care, in-home (see § 300-91).

No-impact home-based business (see § 300-116).

Roadside stands subject to the following conditions:

(1)

All structures used to display goods shall be no more than 500 square feet in size, and shall maintain a setback of 15 feet from the edge of the road right-of-way.

Manure storage facility (see § 300-112).

Agritourism enterprise (see § 300-85).

§ 300-29 Uses permitted by conditional use.

Uses which, in the opinion of the Board of Supervisors, are of the same general character as those listed as permitted uses and which will not be detrimental to the intended purposes of this district.

Bed-and-breakfast inns (see § 300-88).

Incidental business (see § 300-109).

Retail sale and service of agricultural, plant nursery and garden supplies and goods (§ 300-122).

Animal hospitals, veterinary (see § 300-87).

Stables, riding schools (see § 300-124).

Campgrounds (see § 300-89).

Hunting, fishing, and recreational private clubs (see § 300-108).

Golf course (see § 300-101).

Small noncoal surface mining activity quarry (see § 300-118).

Communications antennas, tower, equipment (see § 300-94).

House of worship and related uses (see § 300-107).

Sawmills (see § 300-126).

Schools (see § 300-127).

ECHO housing (see § 300-97).

Retirement facility (see § 300-123).

Mobile/manufactured home park (see § 300-114).

Conversion apartments (see § 300-96).

Accessory wind energy facility (see § 300-133).

§ 300-30 Area and design requirements.

[Amended 7-11-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-05]

No public/community sewer and water. Any lot, tract or parcel used for the following purposes shall comply with the following:

				Minimum Yard Setbacks
Use	Minimum Lot Area* (acre)	Minimum Lot Width (feet)	Maximum Impervious Lot Coverage	Front (feet)	Side (feet)	Rear (feet)	Maximum Building Height (feet)**
Agriculture, horticulture and forestry related uses	1	175	10%	50	35	50	50
Single-family detached dwelling	1	175	25%	50	20 each	20	35
Other permitted uses	1	200	30%	50	35 each	50	35
Accessory buildings and structures	N/A	N/A	Included in above	Not permitted in required front yard	10	10	25

NOTES:
*	All uses relying upon on-lot sewers must comply with § 300-31.
**	Maximum height limitation does not include chimneys, spires, steeples, unoccupied towers, tanks, silos related to farm operations, antenna or other similar projections.

Public/community sewer or water. Any lot, tract or parcel used for the following purposes shall comply with the following:

				Minimum Yard Setbacks
Use	Minimum Lot Area* (square feet)	Minimum Lot Width (feet)	Maximum Impervious Lot Coverage	Front (feet)	Side (feet)	Rear (feet)	Maximum Building Height (feet)**
Agriculture, horticulture and forestry related uses	1	175	10%	50	35	50	50
Single-family detached dwelling	30,000	150	25%	50	20 each	20	35
Other permitted uses	40,000	175	30%	50	35 each	50	35
Accessory buildings and structures	N/A	N/A	Included in above	Not permitted in required front yard	10	10	25

NOTES:
*	All uses relying upon on-lot sewers must comply with § 300-31.
**	Maximum height limitation does not include chimneys, spires, steeples, unoccupied towers, tanks, silos related to farm operations, antenna or other similar projections.

Public/community sewer and water. Any lot, tract or parcel used for the following purposes shall comply with the following:

				Minimum Yard Setbacks
Use	Minimum Lot Area* (square feet)	Minimum Lot Width (feet)	Maximum Impervious Lot Coverage	Front (feet)	Side (feet)	Rear (feet)	Maximum Building Height* (feet)
Agriculture, horticulture and forestry related uses	1	175	10%	50	35	50	50
Single-family detached dwelling	15,000	100	25%	40	10 each	20	35
Other permitted uses	20,000	150	30%	50	35 each	50	35
Accessory buildings and structures	N/A	N/A	Included in above	Not permitted in required front yard	10	10	25

NOTES:
*	Maximum height limitation does not include chimneys, spires, steeples, unoccupied towers, tanks, silos related to farm operations, antenna or other similar projections.

§ 300-31 Zoning requirements for use of on-lot sewerage disposal systems.

Regardless of any lot area requirements listed in this chapter, the minimum required lot size may be increased to ensure a reasonably acceptable level of nitrate-nitrogen in the adjoining groundwater. Such determinations will be made by the PADEP and/or the Sewage Enforcement Officer.

Every use relying upon on-lot sewage disposal systems shall be required to properly maintain and repair such systems.

§ 300-32 Agricultural nuisance disclaimer.

All lands within the R-1 Zone are located within an area where land is used for commercial 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, 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,[1] may bar them from obtaining a legal judgment against such normal agricultural operations.

[1]

Editor's Note: See 3 P.S. § 954.

From the effective date of this chapter, all subsequent subdivision and land development plans submitted within this zone shall require a note which duplicates this section and which must be transferred to the purchaser by the seller.

§ 300-33 Livestock and poultry regulations.

The keeping or raising of livestock and/or poultry on parcels of land less than 10 acres in area shall be limited to the keeping and raising of two head of livestock or 48 fowl per 40,000 square feet of area.

§ 300-34 Buffer and screening requirements.

All nonresidential uses adjacent to a residential zone or use shall comply with § 300-71 of this chapter. This section shall not apply to agriculture.

Agricultural operations involving animal housing facilities with ventilation fans shall provide vegetative planting strips in accordance with the following standards:

(1)

A planting strip shall be installed opposite the ventilation fan(s) and be of sufficient length to minimize the impacts on adjacent residences. At a minimum, the length of the planting strip shall extend an additional 20 feet from the beginning and end of the ventilation fans.

(2)

The planting strip shall be set back from the animal housing facility a distance equal to 10 times the diameter of the ventilation fan, with a minimum setback of 50 feet from side walls and 80 feet from end walls. Where multiple fans are used in one location, the setback distance may be extended five feet for each additional fan but shall not exceed 150 feet.

(3)

Planting strips shall consist of two rows which may contain a mixture of deciduous and evergreen plants. The first row may include shrubs and grasses. The second row shall consist of at least 50% evergreen trees or shrubs and grow to a minimum of 15 feet tall at maturity. Spacing between plants shall be two feet for grasses, six feet for small shrubs (four feet to 12 feet tall) and 10 feet for large shrubs and trees (greater than 12 feet tall). Spacing between rows shall be 16 feet to 20 feet. Plant species shall have a high tolerance to pollutants. Suggested plant species include:

(a)

Honey locust.

(b)

Nellie Stevens holly.

American holly.

Japanese holly.

Eastern red cedar.

Norway spruce.

Hybrid poplar.

Austree hybrid willow.

Purpleosier willow.

Bald cyprus.

Arborvitae.

Leyland cyprus.

Northwind switchgrass.

(n)

Kanlow switchgrass.

(o)

Thundercloud switchgrass.

(p)

Atlantic Coastal panicgrass.

(q)

Giant Miscanthus.

(4)

The planting strip shall be maintained in a healthy condition. Any landscaping that dies or is severely damaged shall be replaced by the property owner as soon as is practical, considering growing seasons.

(5)

Buffer requirements may be modified pursuant to a written request by the applicant to the Board of Supervisors, due to the particular characteristics of the site or innovative design methods, as long as the modifications will create equal or better results.

§ 300-35 Off-street parking.

Off-street parking shall be provided as required by § 300-81 of this chapter.

§ 300-36 Signs.

The placement, type, and size of all signs erected in the R-1 Zoning District shall be regulated by the provisions of § 300-82 of this chapter.

§ 300-37 Landscaping.

All commercial, industrial, and institutional uses shall comply with § 300-74 of this chapter.