For the purposes of this chapter, the regulation of the use of land or the use of a structure within a specific zoning district situated in Middle Smithfield Township is divided into the following categories with the following abbreviations:
P
Permitted as a Use by Right
C
Permitted as a Conditional Use
SE
Permitted as a Use by Special Exception
N
Prohibited as a Use
A. 
P - Permitted as a use by right. A use within a zoning district that is permitted as a use by right; a permitted use must comply with all the requirements of this chapter.
B. 
C - Allowed as a conditional use. This is a use that is allowed by the Board of Supervisors after recommendations by the Township Planning Commission and a public hearing, pursuant to express standards and criteria set forth in the Zoning Ordinance. In allowing a conditional use, the Board of Supervisors may attach such reasonable conditions and safeguards, in addition to those expressed in this chapter, as it may deem necessary to implement the purposes of the MPC and the Zoning Ordinance.
C. 
SE - Allowed as a use by special exception. This is a use allowed by the Township Zoning Hearing Board after a public hearing, pursuant to express standards and criteria set forth in the Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Hearing Board may attach such reasonable conditions and safeguards, in addition to those expressed in this chapter, as it may deem necessary to implement the purposes of the MPC and the Zoning Ordinance.
D. 
N - Prohibited as a use in a particular zoning district in Middle Smithfield Township. Any use of land, building or structure within the Township that is not preempted or exempt from Township regulation, and is not permitted as a use by right, a conditional use or as a special exception in a particular zoning district, is prohibited as a use in that specific zoning district.
If a use is clearly not provided for in this chapter, whether as a permitted use by right, or by conditional use or as a use by special exception within any zoning district within the Township, then the zoning officer(s) may make a determination as to whether the use not specifically provided for is similar to a use permitted by conditional use or similar to a use permitted by special exception. Once this determination is made by the zoning officer, the applicant must satisfy certain conditions at a public hearing before the appropriate board as set forth herein.
A. 
Similar to a use permitted by special exception. If the zoning officer determines that a use not specifically provided for is similar to another use permitted by special exception under this chapter, then the proposed use may be permitted by special exception if the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Zoning Hearing Board at a public hearing that the following conditions can and shall be met:
(1) 
The proposed use would be no more intensive with respect to external impacts and nuisances than uses that are permitted by right or by special exception within the zoning district;
(2) 
The proposed use would be closely similar in impact and character to uses permitted by right or by special exception within that district, and
(3) 
The proposed use would meet all of the standards that would apply to the use to which the proposed use is most similar to.
B. 
Similar to a use permitted as a conditional use. If the zoning officer determines that a use not specifically provided for is similar to another use permitted as a conditional use under this chapter, then the proposed use may be permitted as a conditional use if the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Board of Supervisors at a public hearing that the following conditions can and shall be met:
(1) 
The proposed use would be no more intensive with respect to external impacts and nuisances than uses that are permitted by conditional use within the zoning district;
(2) 
The proposed use would be closely similar in impact and character to uses permitted by conditional use within the zoning district; and
(3) 
The proposed use would meet all of the standards that would apply to the conditional use to which the proposed use is most similar to.