College Township Center County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IV
Rural Districts
§ 200-16 Forest District.
A.
Intent. In addition to the intent of the Agricultural District, it is the intent of the Forest District to promote the following:
(1)
To encourage the preservation of woodlands as a most suitable use in rural areas.
(2)
To protect and retain natural resources.
(3)
To alleviate erosion, sedimentation and flooding.
(4)
To protect and regenerate watersheds.
(5)
To maintain microclimates and the level of oxygen produced by woodlands.
(6)
To protect wildlife habitat.
(7)
To provide for aesthetic relief, open space and recreational uses.
B.
District regulations. Only the uses listed below shall be permitted in the Forest District. All uses must conform to the lot, yard setback and maximum height regulations stipulated herein, as well as other appropriate requirements of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Criteria and Standards for the Forest District (F) is included as an attachment to this chapter.
C.
Supplemental grazing restrictions. The use of land and/or structures for activities relating to the grazing of cattle and horses and keeping of bees shall have the following additional regulations:
[Added 5-16-2013 by Ord. No. O-13-02]
(1)
Location. The grazing of cattle or horses or keeping of bees shall not extend above an elevation of 1,300 feet above sea level.
(2)
CAFO and CAO. Livestock operations which are defined and regulated as "concentrated animal feeding operations" by the federal government pursuant to 40 CFR 122.23(b)(1) or are defined and regulated as “concentrated animal operations” by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pursuant to 25 Pa. Code § 83.262 as amended shall not be permitted.
(3)
Permit requirements.
(a)
The use of land and/or structures for the grazing of cattle or horses or keeping of bees shall require a zoning permit.
(b)
All applications where the areas of grazing of cattle or horses or keeping of bees appear to be within 100 feet of the thirteen-hundred-foot elevation level shall submit a signed and sealed site plan showing the extent of the grazing areas and any associated structures.
(c)
A permit shall not be required each time a different species of animals is grazed or kept in place of another.
(d)
Existing grazing or beekeeping operations shall be permitted to continue without permit given there is no expansion of such in terms of area grazed.
§ 200-17 Agricultural District.
A.
Intent. It is the intent of the Agricultural District to promote the following:
(1)
To retain the pastoral nature of the district.
(2)
To encourage the preservation of agriculture as a most suitable use in rural areas.
(3)
To limit development to those uses compatible with the rural environment.
(4)
To limit the extension across farmland of public utilities with costly use fees.
(5)
To preserve the quality of the soil for crop and pasture use.
(6)
To protect prime cropland from its conversion to uses incompatible with agriculture.
(7)
To buffer housing from farm activities.
B.
District regulations. Only the uses listed below shall be permitted in the Agricultural District. All uses must conform to the lot, yard setback and maximum height regulations stipulated herein, as well as other appropriate requirements of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Criteria and Standards for the Agricultural District (A) are included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 200-17.1 Open Space Recreation Conservation District.
[Added 5-18-2000 by Ord. No. O-00-02]
A.
Intent. It is the intent of the Open Space Recreation Conservation District to promote the following:
(1)
To provide for open space, recreational and educational activities.
(2)
To protect natural resources and wildlife habitats from urban development.
(3)
To protect and regenerate watersheds.
(4)
To preserve scenic natural areas for the general use and welfare of the public.
(5)
To preserve historic sites and structures.
B.
District regulations. Only the uses listed below shall be permitted in the Open Space Recreation Conservation District. All uses must conform to the lot, yard setback and maximum height regulations stipulated herein, as well as other appropriate requirements of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Criteria and Standards for the Open Space Recreation Conservation District are included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 200-18 Rural Residential District.
A.
Intent. In addition to the intent of the Forest District, it is the intent of the Rural Residential District to promote the following:
(1)
To permit limited commercial uses and community facilities which are compatible with the rural environment or which would create serious nuisances or hazards if located within populous areas.
B.
District regulations. Only the uses listed below shall be permitted in the Rural Residential District. All uses must conform to the lot, yard setback and maximum height regulations stipulated herein, as well as other appropriate requirements of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Criteria and Standards for the Rural Residential District (RR) are included as an attachment to this chapter.