[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998; as added by Ord. 2011-2, 2/15/2011,
§ 12-100]
1. The purposes of this chapter are to:
A. Meet the Act 24 requirements, 64 P.S. § 801 et seq., that
Pennsylvania municipalities along the Appalachian National Scenic
Trail take such action consistent with applicable law, as at least
an interim measure, to preserve the natural, scenic, historic, and
aesthetic values of the Trail and to conserve and maintain it as a
public natural resource.
B. Protect important natural and historic resources by maintaining a
natural resource buffer along the Appalachian Trail. This natural
resource buffer is intended to provide a physical and visual screen
from the impacts of new development along the Appalachian Trail.
C. Preserve the scenic and topographic conditions along the Appalachian
Trail that are vital to the Trail's natural and scenic quality
by maintaining the existing tree canopy and protecting viewsheds.
D. Prevent negative noise, light, or other environmental impacts associated
with land uses near the Appalachian Trail.
E. Promote connections with municipal trails and greenways and integration
with a community's natural resource system.
F. Provide benefits to communities along the Appalachian Trail often
associated with greenways (e.g., improve community health, increase
recreational opportunities such as biking and hiking, and increase
property values, etc.).
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998; as added by Ord. 2011-2, 2/15/2011,
§ 12-200]
For any lot or property, or portion thereof, within the Appalachian
Trail National Scenic Trail Overlay District, the regulations of the
Overlay District, the regulations of the Overlay District shall supersede
and regulations of the underlying district which are in conflict with
those of the Overlay District. The boundary of the Overlay District
is designated on the map titled "Stroud Township Appalachian National
Scenic Trail Overlay District," dated October 2010, attached hereto
and incorporated herein by reference, as may be amended.
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998; as added by Ord. 2011-2, 2/15/2011,
§ 12-300]
1. A lot or property, or portion thereof, located within the Primary
Conservation Zone as herein below delineated shall be used only in
accordance with the following regulations:
A. Delineation. A distance of 500 feet from the Appalachian Trail center
line as delineated on the map titled "Stroud Township Appalachian
National Scenic Trail Overlay District," dated October 2010, as may
be amended.
B. Permitted Uses.
(1)
Open space, passive recreational uses (e.g., public or private
trail, parkland, nature preserves, forest preserves, fishing areas).
(2)
Timber harvesting, in keeping with the purposes of this Overlay District, (without structures and in accordance with an erosion and sedimentation control plan approved by the County Conservation District) and reforestation, pursuant to the requirements of Ord. 2001-1 of this chapter [§
27-503, Subsection 1H, et seq.], as may be amended.
(3)
Agriculture, in keeping with the purposes of this Overlay District
(without structures).
C. Prohibited Activities. The following activities are prohibited within
the Primary Conservation Zone:
(1)
Clearing of vegetation, other than (a) required maintenance by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), or other trail club (partnered with the ATC), and (b) permissible timber harvesting as authorized in Subsection
1B(2) above.
(2)
Storage of hazardous, toxic and/or noxious materials.
(3)
Use of motorized vehicle traffic, except in conjunction with permissible timber harvesting as authorized in Subsection
1B(2).
(4)
Construction of parking lots, except for federal, state, or
Township-owned lots.
(5)
Construction of any type of permanent structure, except for
federal, state, or Township-owned structures.
(6)
Installation of above-ground utilities and related structures
and equipment including, but not limited to, cell and wind towers.
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998; as added by Ord. 2011-2, 2/15/2011,
§ 12-400]
1. A lot or property, or portion thereof, located within the Secondary
Conservation Zone as hereinbelow delineated shall be used only in
accordance with the following regulations:
A. Delineation. A distance of 1,500 feet from the edge of the Primary
Conservation Zone as delineated on the map titles "Stroud Township
Appalachian National Scenic Trail Overlay District," dated October
2010, as may be amended.
B. Permitted Uses.
(1)
Open Space, passive recreational uses (e.g., public or private
parkland, nature preserves, forest preserves, fishing areas), reforestation,
and steep slope stabilization.
(2)
Timber harvesting, in accordance with an erosion and sedimentation control plan approved by the County Conservation District, pursuant to the requirements of Ord. 2001-1 [§
27-503, Subsection 1H, et seq.] of this chapter, as may be amended.
(3)
Agricultural uses conducted in compliance with best practices
as prescribed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
(4)
Residential Structures are permitted by conditional use, using the Conservation Subdivision Design process and standards according to §
22-203, Subsection 1D, of the Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter
22].
C. Prohibited Activities. The following activities are prohibited within
the Secondary Conservation Zone:
(1)
Clearing of vegetation, other than (a) maintenance by a federal, state or Township agency, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), or trail club (partnered with the ATC), and (b) permissible timber harvesting as authorized in Subsection
1B(2) above.
(2)
Storage of hazardous, toxic and/or noxious materials.
(3)
Construction of parking lots, except for federal, state, or
Township-owned lots.
(4)
Installation of above-ground utilities and related structures
and equipment including, but not limited to, cell and wind towers.
(5)
Construction of any structures in conjunction with a nonresidential
use.
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998; as added by Ord. 2011-2, 2/15/2011,
§ 12-500]
1. Any use or development of a lot or property, or portion thereof,
within wither the Primary or the Secondary Conservation Zone shall
comply with the following development standards:
A. Design Standards.
(1)
For any structure other then federal, state, or Township structures
constructed within the Secondary Conservation Zone, the minimum setbacks
from the edge of the Primary Conservation Zone shall vary by the size
of the footprint of the structure, as follows:
(a)
A structure 750 square feet or less shall have a minimum setback
of 50 feet.
(b)
A structure more than 750 square feet and less than 1,500 square
feet shall have a minimum setback of 75 feet.
(c)
A structure 1,500 square feet or greater shall have a minimum
setback of 100 feet.
(2)
Structures shall be screened with landscaping (native species
are required) and located on the site in such a way that best preserves
viewsheds from the Appalachian Trail.
(3)
Any structure shall be sited in the least visually prominent
location of a site.
(4)
Any structure shall not be located at the top of a ridgeline
or silhouetted against the sky.
(5)
Construction, development and/or permitted site alterations shall preserve existing trees 12 inches and greater in caliper DBH (diameter breast height) to the extent possible and shall comply with the requirements of §
27-606 of this chapter.
(6)
Steep Slope Requirements.
(a)
No regrading or structures are permitted on slopes over 15%.
(b)
No clear cutting of vegetation on slopes over 15%.
B. Light and Noise Requirements.
(1)
No direct or indirect glare or illumination is permitted to
spillover onto another property or to measure more than 0.1 footcandle
(fc) along a property line.
(2)
Any exterior light fixtures must be shielded and direct light
downward at an angle to restrict illumination to the property in question.
No light shall project at an angle up toward the sky.
(3)
Sound levels measured at the property line shall be limited
to 55 dBA (decibels) from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. plus
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998; as added by Ord. 2011-2, 2/15/2011,
§ 12-600]
ACT 24
Act 24 of 2008, House Bill 1281, signed by Governor of Pennsylvania
on June 11, 2008, effective August 10, 2008, amending the Appalachian
Trail Act of 1978, 64 P.S. § 801 et seq.
APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY
A volunteer-based organization dedicated to the preservation
and management of the natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources
associated with the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. http://www.appalachiantrail.org.
NATURAL RESOURCE BUFFER
Woodlands, tree cover, steep slopes, open space and fields,
farmland, riparian resources, bodies of water, waterways, streams,
wetlands, or any area having the essential character of nature, uses
to reduce the impact of one land use activity upon another land use
activity.
OVERLAY DISTRICT
A set of development standards and regulations applied to
a delineated area over the area's underlying zoning district
regulations. Overlay Districts are used for many purposes. Examples
include conservation of sensitive environmental features (e.g., waterways)
or to encourage environmental features (e.g., waterways) or to encourage
mixed-use development (e.g., Downtown Overlay District).
PROTECTED CORRIDOR
Permanently protected federal, state, or Township land surrounding
the Appalachian Trail. Pennsylvania's 229-mile segment of the
Appalachian National Scenic Trail is within a protected corridor of
varying dimensions that includes National Park Service (NPS) land
and state public land (e.g., game lands). The Appalachian Trail Communities
Network website includes GIS data showing the boundaries of the protected
corridor. [http://www.apptrailpa.org]