[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. Background to Purposes.
A. Based upon information contained in the United States Department of Agriculture National Resource and Conservation Services Lehigh County Soil Survey, 68% of Lower Macungie Township, consists of "prime agricultural land" as that term is defined in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10107, and Part
2 of this chapter.
B. In 1971, it is estimated that there were 10,521 acres or 73% of land
available for or devoted to farming in the Township. It is now estimated
that only 3,700 acres are currently available for or devoted to agricultural
purposes.
C. Between 1971 and 2008 approximately 6,821 acres or 65% of prime agricultural
land in Lower Macungie Township has been lost to development.
D. As of the 2000 United States Census, 39% of the land (5,641 acres)
of the Township was available for agricultural purposes.
E. The population projections for Lower Macungie Township, as set forth
in the Lehigh Valley Comprehensive Plan, forecast that the population
in Lower Macungie Township will increase from 28,000 to over 42,000
between the year 2010 and 2030, thereby jeopardizing the prime agricultural
land which remains available in the Township for agricultural purposes.
F. The 2005 Southwestern Lehigh County Comprehensive Plan and the Lehigh
Valley Comprehensive Plan 2030 reflect that roughly 30% of the land
in the Township is enrolled in either the Act 319 or Act 515 preferential
tax programs, or is included in agricultural security areas under
Pennsylvania Act 43.
G. The farmland in Lower Macungie Township, particularly the prime agricultural
land, is ideal for the growing of crops and raising of livestock,
and the Board of Commissioners wishes to facilitate the continued
availability of land for these purposes, subject to a reasonable allowance
for residential and compatible nonresidential development such as
churches, schools, and municipal and utility uses.
H. This chapter provides ample allowance for residential development
as evidenced from last available census data, which reports that from
1960 though 2000 the Township's population increased from 3,859 persons
to 19,220 persons and population data in the Lehigh Valley Planning
Commission 2009 municipal profiles estimates that, as of 2007, there
were 29,046 persons living in Lower Macungie Township.
I. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission forecasts continued population
growth and pressure for continued growth in the Township which will
challenge the ability of the community to preserve prime agriculture
land.
J. Lower Macungie Township does not consider land used for agricultural
purposes as "vacant," "unused," or "inventory for development," but
rather considers agricultural use to be a legitimate and productive
use of the land in its own right.
K. As of the time of enactment of this amendment, 1,098 acres, or 7%
of the land in Lower Macungie Township, is included in an agricultural
security area.
L. The A-Agricultural/Rural District established by this chapter, which
shares boundaries identical to those established for the AP District
created by this chapter, includes 1,651 acres of prime agricultural
land, or 97% of the total acreage in the AP-Agricultural Protection
District.
M. Prime agricultural lands comprise the best soils in the United States
and Lower Macungie Township is fortunate to have such lands in abundance.
N. The presence of active and productive agricultural lands is a major
land resource for Lower Macungie Township.
2. Specific Purposes of Agricultural Preservation District.
A. To protect and promote the continuation of agriculture, particularly
in areas with prime agricultural lands, consistent with the Governor's
Executive Order 2003-2 dated March 20, 2003.
B. To support the Governor's Executive Order regarding the irreversible
conversion of prime agricultural land to uses that result in its loss
as an environmental and essential food and fiber resource across the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
C. To implement the 2005 Southwestern Lehigh County Comprehensive Plan
and the Lehigh Valley Comprehensive Plan 2030, which emphasizes the
need for effective zoning regulations to preserve prime agricultural
land and to identify the AP-Agricultural Protection District as an
area which includes Class I and Class II soils which are the "very
best agricultural soils."
D. To strengthen and preserve strong agricultural activity to facilitate
farming as a viable component of the local economy.
E. To promote agricultural land uses and activities and other uses and
activities which act in direct support of agriculture.
F. To protect and stabilize the essential characteristics of areas in
the AP District, to minimize conflicting land uses detrimental to
agricultural enterprises, and to limit development which requires
municipal services, roads, highways, and other public facilities and
infrastructure in excess of those required by agricultural uses.
G. To maintain the land resource base, that is, agricultural parcels
or farms, in sizes which will permit efficient, profitable agricultural
operations. In this regard, the Board recognizes that large farmland
tracts are desirable because the size of farmland tracts is directly
related to economic viability of farming operations with respect to
use of modern machinery, soil conservation programs, and the ability
to dispose of manure and other agricultural by-products.
H. To the extent practicable, to keep agricultural land use and activities
separate from incompatible residential, commercial, and industrial
development, and public facilities.
I. To recognize that the rapid development of the Township during the
past three decades has also created a need for additional cultural
facilities, such as parks, schools, and places of worship, which uses
may be permitted in the AP District without impeding, conflicting,
or discouraging agricultural uses and activities.
J. To allow municipal outdoor parks and recreational areas which involve
minimal development of the land, and leave the agricultural soils
on the property available to future generations for agricultural uses
and activities.
K. To further the direction and authorization set forth in the following
sections of the Municipalities Planning Code: § 604(3),
53 P.S. § 10604(3), which directs that zoning ordinances
contain provisions designed to "preserve prime agriculture and farmland";
§ 603(b)(5), 53 P.S. § 10603(b)(5), which authorizes
this Township to permit, regulate, and determine protection and preservation
of prime agricultural land and activities; and § 603(h),
53 P.S. § 10603(h), which provides that zoning ordinances
shall encourage the continuity, development, and viability of agricultural
operations.
L. To recognize that farming and agriculture activities are a legitimate
and fully developed use of the land.
M. To permanently preserve the active and productive agricultural lands
that are present within the Township.
N. To limit residential land development activity within the AP District
in order to preserve the large contiguous tracts of agricultural land
area within the Township.
O. To avoid intensive residential development in the AP District which
may:
(1)
Be incompatible with the noise, odors, and other disturbances
which are part of normal farming operations.
(2)
Create increased trash in farm fields and increased traffic
on rural roads which will impede the movement of farming equipment
in an agricultural area.
P. To further the goals, objectives and planning policies for agricultural
preservation outlined within the 2005 Southwestern Lehigh County Comprehensive
Plan and the Lehigh Valley Comprehensive Plan 2030 including, without
limitation, the following:
(1)
To protect the Township's prime farmland soils and significant
public investment in farming.
(2)
To recognize and protect the area designated as a significant
agricultural area by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
Q. To assure that this chapter reflects and supports the Township's
intent to provide regulations under which agricultural activities
may continue in the face of suburban sprawl.
R. To establish a minimum lot size for residential uses in the AP District
intended to provide sufficient area for on-lot water and on-lot sanitary
and storm sewer facilities as well as providing a sufficient buffer
area on the individual lots from any farming operation disturbances.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. The uses permitted by right in this zoning district are available
in Exhibit 1: Zoning Use Matrix of this chapter, which are conditioned on the requirements of Part
24 and provided the use type, dimensional and all other applicable requirements of this chapter are met.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. The conditional uses allowed in this zoning district are available
in the Exhibit 1: Zoning Use Matrix, and their accessory uses may be permitted following a
review and recommendation by the Planning Commission in accordance
with the provisions of Part 24, any other applicable provisions listed
herein, and approval of the Board of Commissioners.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. The following uses and their accessory uses may be permitted when
authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board, subject
to any other applicable zoning provisions and Part 24:
B. Any use of the same character as those uses permitted by right or
condition in the AP District. Evidence shall be submitted documenting
the similarity and difference between the proposed uses and the uses
permitted by right or condition to which the proposed use is most
similar.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. If a tract is located partly in the AP District and partly in a different
zoning district, then only the acreage in the AP District shall be
considered as part of the original tract for purposes of this chapter.
2. If a tract of land or a portion of a tract is preserved for agriculture
through a recorded covenant or easement that permanently precludes
development, such preserved land may be included in the calculation
of the original tract size for the purpose of determining the maximum
percentage of the original tract that may be used as developable acreage
for subdivision, construction of single-family dwellings, or other
permitted development, provided that no proposed use of such a preserved
tract of land violates the terms of the recorded covenant or easement.
Once a tract of preserved land is used in the above-mentioned calculation
of the size of an original tract, it shall not be used in the calculation
of another original tract.
3. The determination of what land is included in the original tract
shall be based on the tract of land as it exists on October 30, 2009.
Neither any subsequent subdivision or conveyance of land, nor any
change to this chapter which does not expressly address the determination
of what land is included in the original tract, shall affect the determination
of what comprises an original tract or be construed to affect the
original tract. These provisions shall be applicable to each original
tract as reflected by the Lehigh County tax parcel identification
numbers on October 30, 2009. The purpose of, in effect, freezing tract
sizes by this provision is to eliminate the possibility of repeated
subdivisions into smaller and smaller tracts, each thereafter entitled
to the maximum amount of allowable development pursuant to other sections
of this Part, or the merger of previously preserved land with an adjacent
lot or lots for the purpose of using the same agricultural residue
for more than one project.
4. Property owners who own two or more contiguous original tracts may combine original tracts for the purpose of calculating and determining the developable acreage that may be used for location of the single-family detached dwellings permitted pursuant to §§
27-406 and
27-407.
5. A property owner may subdivide a parcel of less than 12 acres from the original tract as long as: (A) any such subdivided parcel is consolidated by deed with an adjoining parcel at the time of recording of the subdivision plan, (B) such consolidated parcel shall be 12 or more acres in size, and (C) the remainder of the original tract (from which the parcel of less than 12 acres is being subdivided) shall be 12 or more acres following the subdivision. The entitlement to one farmstead on each subdivided lot as provided by §§
27-406 and
27-407 shall not apply to any parcel of less than 12 acres that is subdivided from an original tract under this section.
6. If a property owner chooses to consolidate the owner's contiguous original tracts, the owner subdividing pursuant to §
27-406 or
27-407 will be entitled to one farmstead for every original tract existing prior to the consolidation; in other words, it is not intended that consolidation of original tracts will result in the loss of the farmstead lot allowable for an original tract.
7. All lots within the AP District or created under the provisions of
this Part must comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. Under this option, 25% of the original tract (the developable acreage)
may be used for single-family residential dwellings or any other use
permitted in the AP District. The remaining 75% must be made a part
of the agricultural residue. The agricultural residue shall be used
for agricultural uses and uses, other than single-family dwellings,
permitted in the AP District, provided only a dwelling in existence
as of October 30, 2009, on the original tract may be converted to
a bed-and-breakfast use.
2. Under this option, each original tract is entitled to one farmstead
lot in addition to the number of lots permitted on the developable
acreage. Only dwelling units and agricultural buildings and structures
in existence on October 30, 2009, are permitted on a farmstead lot.
3. Included in the developable acreage shall be areas allocated for:
road rights-of-way; private roads and accessways; easements, facilities,
pipes, structures and systems, whether above or below ground, intended
for use, in whole or in part, for well or water service, sanitary
sewer, septic service, access roads, stormwater management, groundwater
recharge, and any public or private utility. These items and improvements
shall not be allowed in the agriculture residue unless specifically
needed to serve the use located upon the residue.
4. All uses permitted in the AP District, including single-family dwellings,
are permitted in the developable acreage. All uses permitted in the
AP District, except single-family dwellings, are permitted in the
agriculture residue. The bed-and-breakfast use is only permitted in
the existing dwelling located upon the original tract, whether located
in the developable acreage or upon a farmstead lot.
5. All lots created pursuant to this section shall have frontage on
public or private roads. All such lots must comply with all applicable
provisions of this chapter.
6. The Board of Commissioners shall determine whether the goal of preserving
prime agricultural land is best served by requiring that newly created
lots be located on existing public streets or on streets constructed
as part of the development under this Part.
7. As an alternative to development pursuant to this section, and at the discretion of the property owner, the property owner may subdivide the original tract in accordance with §
27-407.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. Under this option, the property owner may subdivide the original
tract in accordance with the following schedule:
Original Tract Size
|
Permitted Number of Lots
|
---|
12 to 15 acres
|
3
|
> 15 to 30 acres
|
5
|
> 30 to 60 acres
|
7
|
>60 to 90 acres
|
9
|
>90 to 120 acres
|
11
|
>120 to 150 acres
|
13
|
>150 acres
|
15 lots plus 2 lot for each 30 acres over 150 acres
|
2. Under this option, each original tract is entitled to one farmstead lot in addition to the number of lots permitted under the schedule within Subsection
1. Only dwelling units and agricultural buildings and structures in existence on October 30, 2009, are permitted on a farmstead lot. Only agricultural uses shall be permitted on the agricultural residue, provided that only a dwelling in existence as of October 30, 2009, on the original tract may be converted to a bed-and-breakfast use.
3. Each lot, which is not the agricultural residue or a farmstead lot, as permitted under Subsection
1, may be improved with one existing or new single-family detached dwelling.
4. All lots created pursuant to this section shall have frontage on
public or private roads. All lots must comply with all applicable
provisions of this chapter.
5. The Board of Commissioners shall determine whether the goal of preserving
prime agricultural land is best served by requiring that newly created
lots be located on existing public streets or on streets constructed
as part of the development under this Part. In the interest of efficient
site design, newly constructed streets and their appurtenant facilities
(i.e., curbs, swales, sidewalks, sewers, and utility transmission
lines) servicing these newly created lots may be placed on the agricultural
residue. All other infrastructure and improvements shall be placed
on the developable acreage and not the agricultural residue unless
specifically needed to serve the use located upon the residue.
6. As an alternative to development pursuant to this section, and at the discretion of the property owner, the property owner may subdivide the original tract in accordance with §
27-406.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. All lots created in the developable acreage pursuant to §§
27-406 and
27-407 must be contiguous. "Contiguous" means that any subdivided lot or tract must share a common boundary with another subdivided lot or tract, regardless of how small in length, or share a common point of connection. Where the applicant is able to demonstrate that noncontiguous lots will result in a larger contiguous agricultural residue, the Board of Commissioners may allow the lots in the developable acreage to be noncontiguous, at its complete discretion.
2. The purpose of this section is to cluster the lots created in the
developable acreage to allow the largest tract of agricultural residue
possible which contains the highest quality prime agricultural land,
and to reduce the amount of land devoted to roads, stormwater management,
utilities and other infrastructure in an effort to minimize interference
with the then-existing agricultural use, as well as potential, future
agricultural use.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. Any original tract that is less than 12 acres and in single and separate ownership on October 30, 2009, is exempted from the provisions of §§
27-405,
27-406,
27-407, and
27-408.
2. Applicants only proposing to establish an agricultural use, any municipal use, an emergency services use, a utility use, a wireless telecommunications tower or antenna, a place of worship, a school, and/or a bed-and-breakfast on a parcel are exempt from the provisions of §§
27-405,
27-406,
27-407, and
27-408.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
Dwelling units lawfully existing on an original tract on October
30, 2009, shall be included in the farmstead lot.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. In subdivisions developed under the requirements of §
27-406, all newly created lots shall be either: (A) a farmstead lot with a minimum acreage of 11 acres and containing the entire agricultural residue; (B) a nonfarmstead residential lot having a minimum lot size of one acre; or (C) a nonresidential lot containing the entire agricultural residue. All preexisting dwellings and farm structures shall be located on the farmstead lot, if one is created.
2. In subdivisions developed under the requirements of §
27-407, all newly created lots shall be either: (A) a farmstead lot with a minimum acreage of 11 acres and containing the entire agricultural residue; (B) a nonfarmstead residential lot having a minimum lot size of one acre and maximum lot size of 1.5 acres; or (C) a nonresidential lot containing the entire agricultural residue. Every preexisting dwelling shall be located on the farmstead lot.
3. In no event shall the agricultural residue of the original tract
be less than eight acres.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. Under §
27-406, the developable acreage shall be configured so as to: (A) include the maximum amount of the least agriculturally productive land and (B) minimize interference with existing or potential future agricultural production.
2. The least agriculturally productive land shall be ranked as follows
(from least productive to most):
A. Soils which fall within the capability Classes V through VIII, as
set forth in the Lehigh County Soil Survey, shall be considered the
least agriculturally productive land.
B. Those areas which cannot feasibly be farmed due to: (1) existing
features of the site, such as rock outcroppings, rock too close to
the surface to permit plowing, swamps, being heavily wooded, or slopes
exceeding 15%; or (2) the size or shape of the area being ill-suited
for and/or insufficient to permit efficient use of farm machinery
and equipment, shall be considered the next least agriculturally productive
land.
C. Soils which fall within capability Class IV, as set forth in the
Lehigh County Soil Survey, shall be considered the third least agriculturally
productive land.
3. For subdivisions pursuant to §
27-406 where less than 25% of the original tract consists of land which meets the criteria of Subsection
2A,
B, or
C above, the property owner may use more agriculturally productive land for the developable acreage after all of the least agriculturally productive lands (i.e., those meeting the criteria of Subsection
2A,
B, or
C) have been included in the developable acreage.
4. For all subdivisions, the property owner/applicant shall have the
burden of proving that the land sought to be used as the developable
acreage meets the criteria set forth in this section.
5. For subdivisions pursuant to §
27-406, if the Board of Commissioners determines that it is in the best interest of the goal of preservation of prime agricultural land, it may allow the developable acreage to be located on soil capability classes which are identified in Subsections
2A or
C as less agriculturally productive but not classified as such in the Lehigh County Soil Survey.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. Farming practices and residential uses are incompatible because of conflicts over traffic, noise, odor, vandalism, and other matters. The agricultural residue of the original tract may be used for agricultural uses as set forth in §
27-402 of this Part. The activities, practices, equipment, and procedures that farmers adopt, use, and engage in relative to the production and preparation for market of poultry, livestock and their products and in the production, harvesting, and preparation for market or use of agricultural, agronomic, horticultural, silvicultural and agroncultural crops and commodities, and the Township's regulation thereof, are regulated by Pennsylvania Right-to-Farm Law, 3 P.S. § 851 et seq.
2. Any deed transferring any lot created out of a subdivision under
the percentage or sliding scale options described above shall include
the following notice in bold text:
"The parcel of land conveyed hereby is located within the AP-Agricultural
Protection Zoning District of Lower Macungie Township. The lot/unit
is located in close proximity to lands zoned for agricultural use,
upon which the owner (or tenant) thereof may, to the extent consistent
with then existing zoning regulations, or, if applicable, as an allowed
nonconforming use, engage (A) in the production and preparation for
market of poultry, livestock and their products; (B) in the production,
harvesting and preparation for market or use of agricultural, agronomic,
horticultural, silvicultural and agroncultural crops and commodities;
and (C) in the use of equipment in the course thereof. By accepting
this deed, the Grantee shall be deemed to acknowledge the noise, odors,
traffic patterns, etc., which may be associated with farming activities
on other properties in Lower Macungie Township and neighboring communities."
|
3. A deed transferring any agricultural residue or farmstead lot that
has been created pursuant to the provisions of this Part (i.e., any
parcel, lot or unit other than the original tract in its entirety)
shall include the following notice in bold text:
"The parcel of land conveyed hereby is located within the AP-Agricultural
Protection Zoning District of Lower Macungie Township. The land or
unit hereby conveyed was created pursuant to the regulations of that
zoning district. Any new use of this property shall be an agricultural,
school, place of worship, municipal, utility, emergency services,
wireless telecommunications tower/antenna, or bed-and-breakfast use
or uses. By accepting this deed, the Grantee shall be deemed to have
acknowledged the limitation on the use of this property. This restriction
shall run with the land, shall be binding on all future property owners
and shall inure to the benefit of the Township."
|
4. Every subdivision plan and land development plan involving lands
in the AP District shall contain plan notes and labeling, legends,
etc., on plan sheets, as appropriate, identifying, explaining, and
measuring, at a minimum, the following:
A. Each lot or unit allocated for a use or dwelling in the developable
acreage.
B. The agricultural residue.
G. Deed disclosures and notices as required by §
27-413.
H. Conditional use approval(s) received and any conditions imposed upon
the grant of such approval(s).
I. Any zoning relief received and any conditions imposed upon the grant
of such zoning relief, including, if applicable, any favorable ordinance
interpretations by the Zoning Hearing Board.
J. Soil characteristics of the original tract, whether determined by
the Soil Survey or otherwise through the conditional use approval
process. Specifically, the plan shall include identification of prime
agricultural lands, lands falling within soil capability Classes V
through VIII, and the next least agriculturally productive soils.
L. Any other details relative to all or any part of the original tract
pursuant to this Part deemed to be relevant for inclusion by the Township.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
When a property owner first subdivides the original tract pursuant to either §
27-406 or
27-407, such election shall be binding on the entire original tract including, without limitation, any authorized future subdivision of the agricultural residue. As an example, if a property owner elects to subdivide fewer lots than permitted pursuant to either §
27-406 or
27-407, thereafter the property owner may only subdivide additional lots which will cumulatively total the number of lots which could have been constructed as of October 30, 2009. Nothing in this section shall affect or be construed to affect the property owner's ability to choose the size of the lots as set forth in §
27-411.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. The agricultural residue shall be of such shape so as to be suitable
for the convenient use of modern farm equipment and machinery.
2. The agricultural residue shall have suitable access, including frontage
on a public street of not less than 100 linear feet. In the case where
the agricultural residue cannot have road frontage, the tract shall
be provided with direct access to a public street. Such an accessway
shall not be less than 25 feet in width or greater than 45 feet in
width.
3. Agricultural structures are allowed to be constructed upon the agricultural
residue and existing agricultural structures may be included within
the agricultural residue.
4. Only one lot containing the entire agricultural residue shall be
created per original tract. Where the geography or the location of
the prime agricultural land makes the creation of just one agricultural
residue lot infeasible, the Board of Commissioners, at their complete
discretion, may allow the creation of two or more lots containing
the agricultural residue. When multiple lots containing the agricultural
residue are allowed, each lot shall meet all of the requirements of
this chapter, and the agricultural residue on each lot shall not be
less than eight acres.
5. To the greatest extent possible, agricultural residues shall be situated
adjacent to one another and/or other conserved farmland, so as to
form large contiguous tracts of protected, usable farmland.
6. Where the subdivision or land development of an original tract(s)
creates an agricultural residue in conformance with the provisions
of this Part, the approved subdivision/land development plan shall
contain the following statement: "The agricultural residue shall not
be subdivided. Moreover, it shall not be developed or have buildings
erected on it, except as provided for in the Lower Macungie Township
Zoning Ordinance, as amended."
7. Any of the following ownership arrangements may be used for the agricultural
residue:
A. Fee-Simple Dedication. The Township may, but shall not be required
to, accept all or any portion or portions of the agricultural residue.
B. Transfer to a Private Conservation Organization. With the approval
of the Board of Commissioners, an owner may transfer the fee simple
title of the agricultural residue, with appropriate deed restrictions
running in favor of the Township, to a private, nonprofit organization.
The transfer to a private conservation organization shall be subject
to the following provisions:
(1)
The organization is a bona fide conservation organization with
perpetual existence.
(2)
The conveyance contains appropriate provision for reverter or
retransfer in event that the organization becomes unwilling or unable
to continue carrying its functions.
(3)
Any agricultural residue shall continue to be available for
agricultural activities.
(4)
The form and language of any deed restriction must be approved
by the Township.
C. Private Ownership with Restrictions. With the approval of the Board
of Commissioners, the agricultural residue may be owned by a private
individual or entity, so long as the appropriate deed restrictions
running in favor of the Township are recorded and an easement conserving
the agricultural residue is granted to a private, nonprofit organization.
This option shall be subject to the following provisions:
(1)
The organization accepting the easement is a bona fide conservation
organization with perpetual existence.
(2)
The easement contains appropriate provision for reverter or
retransfer in event that the organization becomes unwilling or unable
to continue carrying its functions.
(3)
Any agricultural residue shall continue to be available for
agricultural activities.
(4)
The form and language of any deed restriction and/or easement
must be approved by the Township.
D. Homeowners' Association. The agricultural residue may be held in
common ownership by a homeowners' association. The association shall
be subject to all of the provisions for homeowners' associations set
forth in Article VII of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,
53 P.S. § 10701 et seq., as well as the Uniform Planned
Communities Act, 68 Pa.C.S.A. § 5101 et seq. This option
shall be subject to the following:
(1)
The declaration and/or other documents including, but limited
to, the association's bylaws, establishing the association and its
rules and regulations shall contain provisions to ensure the following:
(a)
That the agricultural residue be preserved in perpetuity.
(b)
That the agricultural residue cannot be subdivided, developed,
built upon, or otherwise harmed or altered.
(c)
That the agricultural residue shall not be sold or otherwise
transferred.
(d)
That the agricultural residue is only used for agricultural
and/or passive recreation purposes.
(e)
That the agricultural residue is not used for residential, commercial,
or active recreational purposes, including, but not limited to lawn,
yard refuse disposal, parking, and playing fields.
(f)
That the provisions in these documents concerning the agricultural
residue, it use, and its preservation, shall not be amended or otherwise
abrogated without the express written approval of the Board of Commissioners.
(2)
Any agricultural residue shall continue to be available for
agricultural activities.
(3)
The agricultural residue shall be protected by appropriate deed
restrictions running in favor of the Township.
(4)
The form and language of the deed restriction, declaration,
bylaws, and any other pertinent document must be approved by the Township.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
The following dimensional requirements in this section apply
to each use permitted in the AP District, subject to further applicable
provisions of this chapter:
Principal Use
|
Minimum Lot Area
|
Minimum Lot Width
(feet)
|
Maximum Building Coverage
|
Maximum Impervious Coverage
|
Maximum Building and Structure Height Unless Otherwise Specified
(feet)
|
---|
Single-family dwelling on a lot created from an original tract
less than 12 acres in size
|
1 acre
|
150
|
15%
|
25%
|
35
|
Single-family dwelling on a lot created from an original tract
12 acres or greater in size
|
|
150
|
15%
|
25%
|
35
|
Farmstead lot
|
|
250
|
15%
|
25%
|
35 (except for silos)
|
Boarding stables
|
10 acres
|
200 if not part of Ag. Residue
|
15%
|
25%
|
35
|
Greenhouse/Nursery
|
3 acres, if not part of Ag. Residue
|
200 if not part of Ag. Residue
|
30%
|
40%
|
35
|
Animal husbandry
|
10 acres
|
300
|
15%
|
30%
|
35
|
Boarding kennel
|
3 acres
|
200
|
15%
|
25%
|
35
|
Place of worship
|
3 acres
|
200
|
20%
|
30%
|
35
|
Public school
|
10 acres
|
300
|
15%
|
35%
|
35
|
Public utility structures, necessary for transmission such as
well house, switching station, etc.
|
No Minimum
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
35
|
All other uses unless otherwise specified
|
1 acre
|
150
|
15%
|
25%
|
35
|
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
Principal Use
|
Front Yard
(feet)
|
Side Yard
(feet)
|
Rear Yard
(feet)
|
---|
Parking areas
|
—
|
5
|
5 (Driveways)
|
All structures unless otherwise specified
|
35
|
25
|
35
|
NOTES:
|
Side and rear yards are in addition to buffer yards except as provided in § 27-1803.
|
See Figure 1D in Exhibit 2: Typical Residential Lot Layouts
for example.
|
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1. Accessory uses or structures on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the permitted use and primary structure are permitted by right. Only the following accessory uses are permitted in this part. These uses shall comply with all yard regulations, except as modified by the provisions contained within §
27-1708, Residential Accessory Uses.
A. Accessory recreational agricultural activity.
B. Accessory residential dwelling.
D. Clubhouse, swimming pool, community recreation owned and operated
by a homeowners' association or condominium association.
H. Temporary structure or use.