Township of Thornbury, PA Article IV R-1 - Residential/Agricultural District

§ 155-400 Purpose.

It is the purpose of this district to preserve the agricultural and rural residential character of appropriate areas of the Township, provide housing opportunities for residential development at low densities consistent with such character, and provide for clustering of housing as an option to preserve and enhance the natural, scenic, and historic character of the landscape. In addition, it is the intent of this district to achieve the applicable purposes and community development objectives of Article I.

§ 155-401 Uses permitted by right.

A. Single-family detached dwelling.

B. Agriculture per § 155-1601.

C. Agritainment per § 155-1602.

D. Agritourism per § 155-1602.

E. Non-tower-based wireless communications facilities per § 155-1615.

§ 155-402 Uses permitted by special exception.

The following uses shall be permitted by special exception, when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board, subject to the provisions of § 155-2005 and the specific sections listed below:

A. (Reserved)

§ 155-403 Conditional uses.

The following uses shall be permitted by conditional use, when authorized by the Board of Supervisors, subject to the provisions of § 155-2105 and the specific sections listed below:

A. Bed-and-breakfast (historic resource) per § 155-1603.

B. Cemetery per § 155-1604.

C. Cluster Residential Development per Article XII.

D. Day care per § 155-1608.

E. Outdoor private recreation per § 155-1616.

F. Outdoor stadium lighting per § 155-1617.

G. Religious facility per § 155-1618.

H. School per § 155-1621.

I. University per § 155-1622.

J. Veterinary clinic per § 155-1623.

§ 155-404 Accessory uses and structures.

Except as otherwise indicated in this chapter, accessory uses customarily incidental to any of the principal uses in this district shall be permitted by right on the same lot as the principal use and subject to the applicable provisions for accessory uses of Article XVI. The following specific accessory uses shall also be permitted by right subject to the applicable provisions of Article XVI:

A. Home-based business per § 155-1612.

B. Microwave antennas per § 155-1614.

C. Renewable energy systems per § 155-1619.

D. Secondary farm business per § 155-1601B.

E. Private parking and/or garage (structure).

F. Private swimming pool per § 155-1616L.

G. Private tennis court per § 155-1616L.

§ 155-405 Area and bulk regulations.

Unless specifically stated otherwise or differing for a specific use as authorized by this chapter, the following shall be the minimum area and bulk regulations for the district. [NOTE: See Article II for the definition of "building coverage" for a diagrammatic lot layout illustrating setbacks and building coverages.]

A. Lot coverages.

(1) Building coverage: 15% maximum.

(2) Impervious coverage: 20% maximum.

B. Principal structure.

(1) Lot size per dwelling unit or use: 80,000 square feet.

(2) Lot frontage: 250 feet.

(3) Lot frontage (cul-de-sac): 125 feet.

(4) Front yard setback: 100 feet.

(5) Side yard setback: 50 feet.

(6) Rear yard setback: 75 feet.

(7) Building height: 35 feet maximum.

C. Accessory structure(s). See § 155-1500 for lot and bulk standards for various types of accessory structures.

D. Optional subdivision configuration.

(1) At the applicant's option, minimum lot sizes within subdivisions in the R-1 District may be reduced in exchange for configuring of protected areas as defined in Article XIV into conservation tracts designated separately from building lots.

(2) In order to exercise this option, the following provisions must be met:

(a) All protected areas with a contiguous area of 10,000 square feet or greater shall be held in tracts designated separately from developable lots. These tracts:

[1] Shall not count against the allowed number of developable lots within the subdivision;

[2] Shall not be subject to otherwise applicable minimum lot size requirements;

[3] Shall be restricted from further subdivision or land development by deed restriction, conservation easement or other agreement in a form acceptable to the Township and duly recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Chester County and shall be noted on the face of the record plan. Any such restrictive mechanism shall be structured in a manner that would require the agreement of both the Township and a homeowners' association or like organization in order to abolish it in the future;

[4] Shall be clearly identified on the face of the record plan; and

[5] Shall be owned and maintained per the provisions in § 155-1207, except that § 155-1207(B)(5) shall not be applicable.

(b) Minimum lot sizes of developable lots may be reduced as follows:

[1] The average lot size within a development shall be no less than 70,000 square feet.

[2] No lot shall have an area of less than one acre.

[3] No more than 50% of the lots in a development shall have an area of less than 70,000 square feet.

[4] No more than 10% of the lots in a development shall have an area of less than 60,000 square feet.

§ 155-406 Design standards.

The following design standards as applicable for permitted uses in this district shall include:

A. Supplemental Use Standards, per Article XVI.

B. Signs, per Article XVII.

C. Natural Resource Protections, per Article XIV.

D. Historic Resources Protection, per Article XIII.

E. General Standards, per Article XV.

F. Off-Street Parking and Loading, per Article XVIII.

G. Fences, Walls and Screens, per Chapter 76.

H. Floodplain Management, per Chapter 83.

I. Stormwater Management, per Chapter 116.