Douglass Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IV
R-A Residential Agriculture District
§ 265-42 Declaration of legislative intent.
The following is an expansion of the Statement of Community Development Objectives contained in Article I of this chapter. The purpose of this district is:
A.
To promote a transition from rural, resource conservation and agricultural areas to low-density residential areas that are compatible with the existing neighborhoods and uses in the district.
B.
To foster protection of sensitive environmental features while allowing for development appropriate to the district.
C.
To insure the conservation of natural resources.
D.
To encourage the preservation of open space and recreational uses.
E.
To maintain rural character, discourage road frontage development, and preserve existing agriculture and conservation uses.
F.
To provide for residential development at relatively low densities compatible with existing development and appropriate environmental concerns within this district.
G.
To limit the residential demand for public services to avoid costly infrastructure improvements and development.
§ 265-43 Permitted uses.
A building or other structure may be erected, altered or used, and a lot may be used or occupied for any of the following purposes:
B.
Special exception uses. A building or other structure may be erected, altered or used, and a lot may be used or occupied for any of the following purposes when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board:
D.
Accessory uses. The following accessory uses are permitted by right when subordinate and customarily incidental to any of the above permitted uses and upon the issuance of a zoning permit:
(1)
Use A-1: Residential Accessory Structure.
(2)
Use A-3: Agricultural Accessory Structure.
(3)
Use A-4: Commercial Vehicle Parking.
(a)
Special exception approval by the Zoning Hearing Board is needed to park more than one commercial vehicle. Farm vehicles are exempt from this requirement.
(4)
Use A-5: Fences and Walls.
(5)
Use A-6: Home Occupations.
(6)
Use A-7: Family Day-Care Home.
(7)
Use A-9: Accessory Roof-Mounted Solar Energy System.
(8)
Use A-10: Accessory Ground-Mounted Solar Energy System.
(9)
Use A-12: Communications Antennae.
(a)
Special exception approval by the Zoning Hearing Board is needed if antennae are more than 15 feet higher than the structure on which they are mounted, or if not mounted on an existing structure.
(10)
Use A-15: Swimming Pool.
(11)
Use A-16: Accessory Dwelling Unit.
§ 265-44 Dimensional requirements.
The following dimensional standards shall apply to all uses in the R-A District.
R-A Residential - Agriculture Dimensional Requirements | |
|---|---|
Minimum lot area | 2 acres for Use C-3: Single-Family Detached Dwelling 5 acres for all other uses. |
Minimum lot width | 150 feet at the building line |
Minimum front yard setback | 50 feet, measured from the ultimate right-of-way line |
Minimum side yard setback | 20 feet, measured from the lot boundary line. Each lot shall have at least 2 side yards |
Minimum rear yard | 25 feet, measured from the rear lot boundary line |
Maximum building coverage* | 10% |
Maximum impervious coverage** | 15% |
Maximum height | 35 feet |
Notes: | |
|---|---|
* | Building coverage is the percentage of the total lot area covered by the principal building. |
** | Impervious coverage is the percentage of the total lot area covered by buildings and paved surfaces which do not permit water to penetrate into the soil. This includes buildings (both principal and accessory), parking, driveways, walks, courts, pools (swimming and ornamental) and patios, unless constructed of pervious or porous materials, as determined by the Township. |