The Township of Forks is hereby divided into districts of different types, each type being of such number, shape, kind and area, and of such common unity of purpose and adaptability of use, that are deemed most suitable to carry out the objectives of this chapter and the Comprehensive Plan.
[Amended 6-1-2017 by Ord. No. 350; 5-21-2020 by Ord. No. 363]
For the purpose of this chapter, Forks Township is hereby divided into districts, which should be designated as follows:
District
Title
FP
Farmland Protection
OR
Open Space Residential
CR
Country Residential
SR
Suburban Residential
SR-1
Suburban Residential/Mobile Home
TC
Town Center
TC-1
Town Center-1
EC
Employment Center
EC-1
Employment Center/Mobile Home
EC-2
Employment Center/Landfill
EC-3
Employment Center/Apartment
RC
Riverfront Conservation
HC
Heritage Corridor
REM
Recreational/Educational/Municipal
[Amended 6-1-2017 by Ord. No. 351]
Districts are bounded and defined as shown in the map entitled "Zoning Map of Forks Township" which accompanies and which, with all explanatory matters thereon, is hereby made a part of this chapter.[1]
A. 
Zoning Map amendments.
(1) 
The Official Zoning Map of the Township of Forks is hereby amended to rezone the following tax parcels from the Town Center (TC) District to the Town Center-1 (TC-1) District.
2250 Lafayette Park Drive - K9-15-1A-80-0311 - 1.69 acres
2265 Lafayette Park Drive - K9-15-1A-81-0311 - 1.76 acres
2280 Lafayette Park Drive - K9-15-1A-78-0311 - 1.52 acres
2295 Lafayette Park Drive - K9-15-1A-79-0311 - 2.00 acres
(2) 
The Zoning Map of Forks Township is hereby amended by changing the current zoning classification of the property located West of Sullivan Trail and North of Uhler Road, more specifically being Northampton County Tax Map Parcels TMP J8-18-7(13.8481 acres), TMP J9-8-6 (1.7017 acres), TMP J9-8-7 (12.4328 acres) more particularly set forth on Exhibit A[2] attached hereto and made a part hereof, from the current Employment Center (EC) District to the Employment Center/Apartment (EC-3) District.
[Added 5-21-2020 by Ord. No. 363]
[2]
Editor's Note: Exhibit A is on file in the Township offices.
(3) 
The Zoning Map of Forks Township is hereby amended by changing the current zoning classification of the property located West of the CR Zoning District, approximately 300 feet East of the center line of Sullivan Trail and/or East of Rensselaer Avenue, South of Meco Road West and North of Forks Avenue, as more particularly set forth on Exhibit A[3] attached hereto and made a part hereof, from the current Town Center (TC) District to the Town Center/Apartment (TC-1) District.
[Added 10-1-2020 by Ord. No. 365]
[3]
Editor's Note: Exhibit A is on file in the Township offices.
(4) 
The Zoning Map of Forks Township is hereby amended by changing the current zoning classification of the property located West of Tax Parcel J9/15/11 and J9/21/5, East of Kesslersville Road, South of Tax Parcel J9/15/8A and J9/21/3A and North of Newlins Road West, as more particularly set forth on Exhibit B[4] attached hereto and made a part hereof, from the current Employment Center (EC) District to the Employment Center/Apartment (EC-3) District.
[Added 10-1-2020 by Ord. No. 365]
[4]
Editor's Note: Exhibit B is on file in the Township offices.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Zoning Map is included as an attachment to this chapter.
Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the district as indicated on the Zoning Map, the following rules shall apply:
A. 
Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately coinciding with the center lines of streets, highways, railroad lines, or streams, such center lines shall be construed to be such boundaries.
B. 
Where district boundaries are so indicated that they approximately coincide with lot lines, such lot lines shall be construed to be said boundaries; or where district boundaries are extensions of lot lines or connect the intersections of lot lines, such lines shall be said district boundaries.
C. 
Where district boundaries are so indicated that they are approximately parallel to center lines of streets or highways, such district boundaries shall be construed as being parallel thereto and at such distance therefrom as indicated on the Zoning Map.
D. 
If land within the Township of Forks has been determined to be without a zoning classification for any reason, that land shall be developed only in accordance with the standards and requirements of the FP District.
A. 
FP Farmland Protection District. Traditionally, farming practices and residential uses have been incompatible because of conflict with traffic, noise and odor. The FP District is intended to conserve agricultural land within the Township, discouraging residential consumption of prime agricultural land. Given the housing projections until at least the year 2010, the area within the FP District is not needed to meet the projected housing needs of the Township. Further, this district will remain with little development incentives since it is not intended to be served by public sewers. In addition, the FP District is intended to encourage and enhance the preservation of the cultural landscape within the Township and to act as a primary open space link within the residential and employment centers in the community.
B. 
OR Open Space Residential District. The intent of the district is to preserve the low-density residential conservation district located along the top of the palisades of the Delaware River and to protect and preserve the viewsheds and rural character of this area in the form of conservation open space, parkland and/or golf courses. In addition, this district could function as the Township's principal open space and recreational area and would be linked through open space trails and recreation paths to the existing Township and county parks, schools and the Town Center. This district would also help reinforce the RC District along the Delaware River.
C. 
CR Country Residential District. This district is currently a series of residential subdivisions and single-family detached dwellings that are not interconnected to create a strong sense of community or neighborhoods. The intent of the district is to connect the disjointed residential uses with the current Comprehensive Plan for roads and a street hierarchy of boulevards with a network of open space, consisting of parkland, greenways and recreation paths with recreational opportunities woven throughout the district. Parks will act as important focal points to create areas of space. In addition, the district is intended to link the Town Center with the municipal park system.
D. 
SR Suburban Residential District. This area is primarily older developments with frontage along old Township roads. The intent of the district is to encourage a greater variety of residential housing types within the portions of the Township that are most appropriately suited for relatively higher densities and that would be reasonably related to existing community facilities, schools and the Town Center through improved roads and a network of open space recreation paths and greenways.
E. 
SR-1 Suburban Residential District. The intent of this district is consistent with the SR Suburban Residential District, except that it includes the provision for mobile (manufactured) home parks.
F. 
TC Town Center District. The TC District is a gateway to the Township. This district is intended to promote a cultural, social and commercial center in the Township. This center includes the municipal complex and community park and existing commercial developments, and will encourage the development of vacant and underutilized properties in a manner that promotes a town center. The Comprehensive Plan recommends a road and pedestrian network to make the center more readily identifiable and to channel pedestrians to it. The intent is to create a downtown atmosphere that is pedestrian-oriented. The Town Center should have a compact form that combines jobs, recreation, schools, residential and neighborhood commercial opportunities. The area is intended to discourage conventional strip commercial development with large parking lots in front of rows of stores, and instead encourage attractive well-landscaped streetscapes. This district is intended to promote high-quality site design building upon the traditional neighborhood development provisions of the State Municipalities Planning Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
G. 
EC Employment Center District. The intent of the EC District is to promote and encourage employment opportunities within the Township for desirable office, service and manufacturing uses. Principal access to this area is via Kesslersville Road, Sullivan Trail and Uhler Road. This district is intended to be the Township's multipurpose district which could permit both research-office and manufacturing uses. The EC District needs to provide for passive recreation and bikeway and walking trail opportunities in addition to improving the existing roads and providing buffers and tree-lined boulevards. The EC District will contain the majority of the business and industry that will help to support the residential growth in the community.
H. 
EC-1 Employment Center District. The intent of this district is consistent with the EC District, except that it includes the provision for mobile (manufactured) home parks.
I. 
EC-2 Employment Center District. This district is consistent with the EC District, except that it includes the provisions for solid waste facilities.
J. 
RC Riverfront Conservation District. The Delaware River is part of a greenway effort to preserve access and the floodway. The intent of the district is to enhance the visual and environmental character of the Delaware River and provide access and riverfront recreational opportunities within and along this resource of regional importance. It is not the intent to encourage infill development, but, rather, to provide the opportunity for adaptive reuse of the existing buildings within the corridor. This allows for new uses which are consistent with the overall intent of the district, but requires them to reinforce the character of the district.
K. 
HC Heritage Corridor District. The district is lined with historic properties, old post roads, historic mills, industrial uses, farmhouses, major scenic attributes and a mix of uses. The intent of the HC District is to preserve the cultural landscape, vistas, views and the integrity of the existing historic structures, yet not limit the possibility of new uses. In addition, it is the intent of the district to promote cultural and recreational tourism, enhance the visual and environmental character of the Bushkill Creek area and provide opportunities within and along this resource. The HC District will create an area of scenic and cultural value to the community and provide unique commercial opportunities to the region.
L. 
REM Recreational/Educational/Municipal District. The district mainly consists of existing recreational areas, municipal uses, schools and institutional athletic fields. The intent of this district is to preserve the character of these areas, protect natural features, maintain compatibility with adjacent uses, and provide the opportunities for additional recreation and educational facilities.
M. 
EC-3 Employment Center District. The intent of this district is consistent with the EC District, except that it includes the provisions for apartment and mixed-use apartment with commercial-retail component.
[Added 5-21-2020 by Ord. No. 363]
N. 
ID Industrial Designation District. The district mainly consists of existing industrial uses as defined under this code of ordinances. The intent of the district is to create an area with adequate access to major routes for industrial transportation while ensuring that the character of the surrounding districts is maintained and protected against the inherent intrusive aspects of industrial uses, while promoting and encouraging industrial businesses within the Township. Principal access to this area is via Uhler Road and Richmond Road to provide an adequate route to major transportation routes, such as Route 33 and Route 611. The district is intended to promote a unified industrial center within the Township.
[Added 8-3-2023 by Ord. No. 393]