It is hereby declared to be the intent of the LC District to:
A.
Retain the rural character and scenic qualities in areas of Hamiltonban
Township that have already experienced low-density, large-lot residential
development.
B.
Allow for additional low-density residential development in rural
areas of Hamiltonban Township where extensive active agricultural
uses have either not developed or transitioning away from agricultural
use to some other form of rural use.
C.
Limit permitted residential development density to limit the possibility
of the Township having to provide public or community sewer and/or
water systems to address failing on-lot septic systems.
D.
Conserve existing natural and environmental features (including but
not limited to woodlands, steep slopes, streams, floodplains, and
wetlands) by limiting the extent to which development may occur within
or near such features.
E.
Protect surface water and groundwater quality, and minimize erosion
and stream sedimentation, by minimize the extent of conversion of
existing natural and environmental features through site grading or
development of extensive manicured yard areas.
A.
Permitted uses. The following uses are permitted in the LC District:
(1)
Agricultural operations, excluding agribusiness operations.
(2)
Farms, excluding farms in which a component of the farm is an agribusiness
operation.
(3)
Forestry.
(4)
Nature preserves.
(5)
Places of worship.
(6)
Public park, recreation, and resource management uses.
(7)
Single-family detached dwellings.
(8)
Wildlife sanctuaries.
B.
Accessory uses. The following uses are permitted as accessory uses
to any permitted principal use in the AP District:
(1)
Detached accessory structures, including but not necessarily limited
to detached garages and utility sheds.
(3)
Farm worker housing, as an accessory use to a farm or an agricultural operation, in accordance § 375-80U.
(4)
Growing or producing an agricultural product on a property other
than a farm.
(8)
Processing of agricultural products on the property on which said
agricultural products are grown or produced.
C.
Special exception uses. The following uses are permitted by special exception in the LC District in accordance with the following standards and criteria, any reasonable conditions that the Zoning Hearing Board may deem necessary, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 375-111 of this chapter:
(8)
Wireless communication facility, co-location, inside public right-of-way, proposed as either a stand-alone facility or as part of a DAS, in accordance with § 375-80UU.
For a parcel of land proposed for subdivision (a parent tract
existing on the date of application of the LC District to the parcel
in question), a portion of the parcel must be set aside as open land
in accordance with the following requirements.
A.
Open land shall be provided in accordance with the following scale:
(1)
For a parent tract of less than 10 acres in size, no open land must
be provided.
(2)
For a parent tract of 10 acres to 25 acres in size, 50% of the parcel
shall remain in open land. The open land shall be retained either
on the parent tract or on the open land portion of an estate lot.
(3)
For a parent tract of greater than 25 acres in size, 75% of the parcel
shall remain in open land. The open land shall be retained either
on the parent tract or on the open land portion of an estate lot.
B.
Open land may be devoted to one or more of the following uses:
(1)
Conservation of land in its natural state.
(2)
Passive recreation area, including hiking and bicycling trails, nature
observation, and picnicking. Easements for these areas may be offered
to Hamiltonban Township or to Adams County, land trusts, or other
nonprofit organizations whose purpose is to conserve and protect open
spaces, scenic views, and rural qualities.
(3)
Drainage, access, sewer or water line, and/or similar easements.
(4)
Agricultural uses authorized in § 375-14A(1) or (2).
C.
The following standards shall apply to the land set aside, in accordance
with the requirements of this chapter, as open land:
(1)
Significant site features, including, but not limited to, major tree
stands, hedgerows, water bodies, slopes, and important farmland, shall
be protected as open land in compliance with the intent of this chapter.
(2)
Open land of adjacent parcels shall share a common boundary to the
maximum extent possible to provide areas of continuous open land throughout
an area. Subdivision plans, or other plans prepared to comply with
this chapter, shall depict any open land that has been so designated
on adjoining parcels.
(3)
Natural features shall be maintained, and can be modified to improve
the appearance, operation, functionality, or overall condition of
an open land area. Such modification may include:
C.
Density. Within the LC District, the following maximum residential
density standards apply.
(1)
A maximum of one dwelling unit per eight acres, with the exception
that, if a lot of less than 16 acres has been in existence before
the application of the LC District to the subject property, one dwelling
unit may be subdivided from said property.
(2)
The density allocated by § 375-16C(1) above shall be calculated based on the parcel size, as of the original date of application of this chapter. Additional dwelling units will not be allocated where a lot addition is added to the subject parcel after the original date of application.
E.
Minimum front setback: 35 feet. For estate lots, the entire living
area is subject to the front setback requirement.
F.
Minimum side setback: 20 feet. For estate lots, the entire living
area is subject to the side setback requirement.
G.
Minimum rear setback: 20 feet. For estate lots, the entire living
area is subject to the rear setback requirement.
J.
Maximum building height: 40 feet.
