[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 7.01]
This district is designed to allow limited residential and recreational
development on predominantly wooded or forested areas within the Township.
Further, this district is recognized to contain ecologically sensitive
characteristics which need regulation for the protection and preservation
for the enjoyment and benefit of future generations.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 7.02; as amended by Ord.
44, 6/11/1998; and by Ord. 2006-73, 4/13/2006]
1. Permitted Uses.
A. Customary agricultural operations such as gardening, truck farming,
flower and tree nurseries, but not including the raising, keeping,
and breeding of poultry and livestock. In no case shall manure, fertilizer
or other odor or dust producing substances be stored anywhere within
200 feet of an adjoining lot line.
B. Public conservation areas and structures for the conservation of
open space, water, soil, forest and wildlife resources.
C. Public park and recreation areas, forest preserves, camps, game refuges
and similar nonintensive uses.
D. Single-family detached dwellings.
E. Bed-and-breakfast, subject to the conditions set forth in §
27-1423, Subsection 2B, of this chapter.
[Amended by Ord. 2017-07, 9/14/2017]
F. Family day-care homes, as regulated in §
27-602, Subsection 2D, of this chapter.
[Amended by Ord. 2017-07, 9/14/2017]
G. Customary accessory uses and buildings incidental to any of the above-permitted
uses.
H. Home occupations, as defined in Part
14 of this chapter.
I. Short-term rentals, subject to the following conditions and criteria:
[Added by Ord. No. 2021-5, 4/8/2021]
(1) A minimum lot size of one acre with an approved and operating on-lot
sewage system or connection to public sewer. If not served by a public
sewer system, evidence that the sewer system is adequate to serve
the maximum number of occupants of the short-term rental unit. The
number of bedrooms permitted for a short-term rental shall not exceed
the number of bedrooms approved for the dwelling unit on the sewage
permit issued for such property. Where there is no sewage permit on
record, the short-term rental shall be limited to three bedrooms unless
proof is provided to the Sewage Enforcement Officer that the septic
system is adequate to handle additional flows. Any short-term rental
advertising more than five bedrooms shall provide proof that the septic
system is adequate to handle such flows by having the system approved
by the Sewage Enforcement Officer, or by providing a septic permit
previously issued by a Sewage Enforcement Officer. If a sewage system
malfunction occurs, short-term rental of the dwelling unit shall be
discontinued until the malfunction is corrected in accordance with
Township and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection requirements.
(2) An adequate and safe water supply to the property. If not served
by public water, then the owner shall provide annual proof that a
potable water supply is available for the short-term rental unit.
(3) Fully functioning bathing, toilet and kitchen facilities.
(4) An operating smoke detector in each bedroom, outside each bedroom
in the common hallways, and on each floor.
(5) An operating carbon monoxide detector for any open flame (oil or
gas) furnace or gas fireplace and in any attached garage.
(6) An operating fire extinguisher in any kitchen.
(7) GFCI outlets located within six feet of any water source, including
but not limited to all sinks, sump pumps, etc., and all electrical
outlets must have approved covers.
(8) Aluminum or metal exhaust from any dryer, if provided.
(9) All parking shall be designated on said property and there shall
be no on-street parking permitted at any time. No recreational vehicles,
campers, buses or other large vehicles may be parked on the short-term
rental property at any time, unless otherwise authorized by the Board
of Supervisors.
(10) The maximum overnight occupancy of a short-term rental is as follows,
unless otherwise authorized by the Board of Supervisors:
Number of Bedrooms
|
Maximum Number of Occupants
|
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2
|
8
|
3
|
10
|
4
|
12
|
5
|
14
|
The maximum number of day guests allowed at any one time, in
addition to the overnight occupants, shall be 50% of the maximum overnight
occupancy of the short-term rental. No tents are permitted, and outdoor
overnight sleeping of tenants or guests is prohibited.
|
(11) The owner shall apply and receive a permit to operate a short-term
rental from the Township. The application shall require that the owner
provides sufficient information for confirmation that the short-term
rental unit meets the requirements of this Part, and said application
criteria, process and procedure shall be established by resolution.
Any existing short-term rental unit, as of the adoption of this Part,
shall provide certification from Lebanon County verifying an established
and registered short-term rental unit. The Board of Supervisors may
establish a permit fee for any short-term rental unit by resolution.
(12) The owner shall identify a local designated agent who shall have
access and authority to assume management of the property and take
remedial measures. The local designated agent must reside within the
Township, or within 15 miles of the property. An owner who resides
within the Township, or within 15 miles of the property, may designate
himself/herself as the local designated agent. The local designated
agent shall respond to the Township or the police after being notified
by such official of the existence of a violation of this Part or any
disturbance requiring immediate remedy or abatement. If the local
designated agent is not the owner, this individual shall immediately
advise the owner of any notification of a violation. The local designated
agent and contact information shall be updated annually with the Township.
2. Special Exception Uses. The following use is permitted as a special exception upon approval by the Zoning Hearing Board as provided in Part
22 of this chapter:
A. Recreation areas and structures operated by membership clubs for
the benefit of their members.
3. Conditional Uses. Upon approval by the Board of Supervisors, the following conditional uses are permitted, provided the use complies with the conditions listed herein. Additionally, the applicable requirements of §
27-703 of this Part shall also apply:
[Amended by Ord. 2017-07, 9/14/2017]
A. Group home dwellings, subject to the conditions listed in §
27-1423, Subsection 2E, of this chapter.
B. Pet kennels, subject to the conditions set forth in §
27-1423, Subsection 2G, of this chapter.
C. Campgrounds, subject to the conditions set forth in §
27-1423, Subsection 2F, of this chapter.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 7.03]
1. A lot area, lot width, lot coverage, yard depths and building height satisfying the requirements of the following list, unless otherwise specified heretofore in this section or §
27-702 shall be provided for every principal building or use hereafter erected, altered or established in this District.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2022-9, 7/14/2022]
Lot and Yard Requirements in the RF Residential Forest District
|
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|
Lot Requirements
|
Yard Requirements
|
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Use
|
Minimum Lot Area
|
Minimum Lot Width
|
Maximum Coverage
|
Front
|
Each Side
|
Rear
|
---|
Nonresidential building
|
3 acres
|
250 feet
|
10%
|
50 feet
|
30 feet
|
50 feet
|
Single-family detached
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No utilities
|
2 acres
|
200 feet
|
20%
|
50 feet
|
20 feet
|
50 feet
|
|
Public water or sewer
|
1 1/2 acres
|
150 feet
|
20%
|
40 feet
|
15 feet
|
40 feet
|
All permitted uses if general landscape has slope in excess
of 20%
|
3 acres
|
250 feet
|
10%
|
50 feet
|
30 feet
|
50 feet
|
2. No building shall exceed two and one-half stories or 35 feet in height,
unless authorized by a special exception.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 7.04]
Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with Part
16 of this chapter.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 7.05]
Application for development of plots with the general landscape
having a slope in excess of 20% shall be accomplished by a soil and
erosion control plan approved and/or prepared by the Soil Conservation
Service. Additionally, such properties shall be limited to the removal
of no more than 25% of the vegetative cover.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 7.06]
Signs shall be permitted in accordance with Part
17 of this chapter.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 7.07]
The supplementary district regulations in Part 14 shall apply,
where applicable, as additional requirements for this district.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 7.08]
The environmental and energy requirements in Part 15 shall apply,
where applicable, as additional requirements for this district.