Conserve undeveloped land for the purpose of protecting Primary and Secondary Conservation Areas in contiguous, unfragmented, commonly managed landscapes to:

Contribute to the creation of a community-wide greenway system for the benefit of present and future residents;

Protect productive agricultural soils for continued or future agricultural use by conserving blocks of land large enough to allow for efficient farm operations;

Conserve existing landscape character by minimizing views of new development from existing roads, thereby reducing perceived density;

Encourage innovation and promote flexibility, economy and ingenuity in development;

Provide multiple development options for landowners to reflect their varying circumstances and the individual characteristics of their properties;

Provide for a diversity of lot sizes, building densities, and housing choices to accommodate a variety of age and income groups, and residential preferences;

Provide homes with direct views of greenway land, organized around common greens;

Provide for the conservation and maintenance of greenway land and for active or passive recreational use by residents;

Provide greater efficiency in the siting of services and infrastructure, including the opportunity to reduce length of roads, utility runs, and the impervious cover required for residential development;

Provide a wider range of feasible locations for stormwater and wastewater facilities in order to comply with prevailing state-of- the-art designs and best management practices;

Protect water quality and reduce erosion and sedimentation by retaining existing vegetation and minimizing development on steep slopes in accordance with the Steep Slope Conservation District, § 27-410;

Implement natural resource conservation policies set forth in the Township's 2017 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan as updated;

Implement land use, open space, and community policies set forth in the Township's Comprehensive plan.

Option 1: Basic Conservation, providing for residential uses at the density permitted by the underlying zoning, with at least 50% greenway land. This option is allowed in the FR, R-1, R-2, R-3, NC, C and C-1 Zoning Districts.

Option 2: Age Restricted Communities, providing for residential uses in age-restricted or age-targeted independent living communities at a density higher than Option 1, with at least 60% greenway land. This option is allowed where public sewage disposal is available in the R-3 Zoning District.

Option 3: Estate Lots, providing for residential uses in conventional layouts, at half the density of Option 1, with common greenway land permitted but not required. This option is allowed only in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 Zoning Districts. A declaration of deed restrictions acceptable to the Township shall be established to prohibit future subdivision of the resulting lots.

Option 4: Country Properties, providing for residential uses at very low densities, with common greenway land permitted but not required. An incentive of one additional accessory dwelling unit per lot is provided for the use of this option in accordance with § 27-11.104, Subsection 3. This option is permitted in the FR, R-1, R-2 and R-3 Zoning Districts. A declaration of deed restrictions acceptable to the Township shall be established to prohibit future subdivision of the resulting lots.

In the FR district, this district shall apply to all residential uses on tracts 10 acres net tract area, or larger.

In the R-1 and R-2 Districts, with public sewage disposal, this district shall apply to all residential uses on tracts four acres, net tract area, or larger.

In the R-1 and R-2 Districts, with no public sewage disposal, this district shall apply to all residential uses on tracts eight acres, net tract area, or larger.

In the R-3, NC, C and C-1 Districts with public sewage disposal, this district shall apply to all residential uses on tracts three acres, net tract area, or larger.

In the R-3, NC, C and C-1 Districts, with no public sewage disposal, this district shall apply to all residential uses on tracts seven acres, net tract area, or larger.

Represented by a single application; and

Presented and approved under a common plan. The entire tract shall be designed in accordance with this Part.

Single-family detached dwellings.

Additional dwelling types in the R-3 District, as set forth in § 27-802, Subsection 1.A through G.

Greenway Land. See uses permitted on greenway land in § 27-11.106, Subsection 1.

Home occupations and no-impact home-based businesses in accordance with §§ 27-1315 and 27-202 and the requirements of the underlying zoning district.

Accessory dwelling units (ADU) in subdivisions utilizing Option 4 Country Properties, on a building lot containing 10 or more acres, subject to the provisions in § 27-11.104, Subsection 3.

Uses set forth in the underlying zoning district.

Greenway land shall be delineated to include all Primary Conservation Areas and, in addition, sufficient Secondary Conservation Areas that, when added to the Primary Conservation Areas, shall equal the minimum required greenway land.

Greens. At least 2% of the required greenway land shall be in the form of common greens. The minimum percentage of open space in greens shall be as follows:

In Options 1 and 2, up to 80% of the required greenway land may be in the form of "conservancy lots" as permitted in § 27-11.110, Subsection 1.D. This option is intended to preserve working agriculture, tree nurseries, horse farms and other uses where community or public access is undesirable due to the working nature of the landscape or where a large setting is desirable for an historic home. The remaining greenway land shall be owned and managed by a community association, conservation organization or the Township, in conformance with § 27-11.110.

The ADU shall be located within the principal dwelling unit or in existing or new outbuildings (such as barns, stables, carriage houses, garages and springhouses).

The gross floor area of the ADU shall not exceed 1,500 square feet.

Proposed ADUs shall meet all setback standards of the underlying zoning district, except where an ADU is proposed within a building with a Class I or II designation as shown on the Township Historic Resources Map.

Building permits for an ADU shall not be issued until the applicant demonstrates that a restrictive covenant has been placed on the subject property prohibiting future enlargement of the ADU beyond that permitted herein. This restriction shall also be incorporated into the building permit. Issuance of permits for ADUs shall be contingent upon approval of the Chester County Health Department for appropriate sewage disposal systems.

ADUs shall not count toward the density limits set forth in § 27-11.104.

Determine Gross Tract Area. Gross tract area shall equal the area of land contained within the property lines of the parcel(s) that comprise the tract proposed for development, as described in the deed or as shown on a survey meeting the Township standards.

Determine Constrained Land. Constrained land consists of the resources listed in Table 27-11.104(2), totalled. In the event two or more resources overlap, the land area shall be subtracted only once.

Determine Net Tract Area (NTA). Net tract area equals the gross tract area minus the constrained land.

Maximum Number of Dwelling Units. In Options 1, 2, and 3, the maximum number of dwelling units equals the net tract area (NTA) multiplied by the applicable density set forth in Table 27-11.104(1).

Maximum number of dwelling units permitted in § 27-11.104, Subsection 4.D(3).

Under Option 4 Country Properties, accessory dwelling units permitted in § 27-11.103, Subsection 1.E.

Such dwellings are a Class I or Class II resource;

The dwelling is preserved in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior standards; and

The historic dwelling is placed in a landscape context that respects its historical status and appearance, as agreed upon by the Township and the developer.

The historic dwelling, or portions thereof, are placed under facade easements, as agreed upon by the Township and the developer.

The proposed new dwelling units meet the standards in this CSD Overlay District.

No part of any residential lot shall contain greenway land with the exception of conservancy lots, as permitted in § 27-11.110, Subsection 1.D.

All new dwelling units shall meet the following setback requirements:

Additional standards in § 22-432, Greenway Land Design Standards, of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance shall apply.

Conservation of open land in its natural state.

Agriculture, as defined by § 27-202 shall be permitted. Intensive agricultural uses, as defined by § 27-202, may be permitted by special exception.

Pastureland for horses and associated equestrian-related structures, such as turnout sheds, provided that the impervious surface of such structures is limited to 3% of the greenway land.

Greens, central commons, picnic areas, benches, community gardens, trails and similar low-impact, passive recreational uses.

Active noncommercial recreation areas, such as playing fields, playgrounds and bikeways, not requiring supporting structures. Such recreational uses shall meet the following standards:

Noncommercial recreation areas such as playing fields, courts, swimming pools or picnic areas requiring supporting structures, and their parking areas, are permitted, but shall not count toward the minimum required greenway land, unless dedicated to the Township. Structures shall be de minimus to the activity. Parking areas shall be unlighted, properly drained and provide safe ingress and egress.

The total area of water supply systems, sewage disposal systems, stormwater management systems and associated easements may occupy up to 20% of the minimum required greenway land. The following standards shall apply:

Easements or rights-of-way for overhead power lines shall not count toward the minimum greenway land requirement.

Specifically prohibited are:

Greenway land in all options shall be identified and laid out according to the Four-Step Design Process described in § 22-303, Subsection 3.G, of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, which begins with the identification of Primary and Secondary Conservation Areas.

Greenway land and associated trails shall be laid out in accordance with consideration of the Township parks, recreation and open space plan so that over time, an interconnected network of greenway land and trails will be created.

In Option 1 (Basic Conservation without per Neutral Density) and Option 2 (Age-Restricted Community), wherein 50% and 60%, respectively, of the net tract area is set aside as greenway land, which may be owned by various entities, at least 20% of the net tract area shall be available for the common use of the subdivision residents.

In Options 3 (Estate Lots) and 4 (Country Properties), greenway land is permitted, but not required, unless the Township determines that trails exist which would provide a benefit to residents of the development. The applicant shall preserve these trails or provide equivalent pedestrian connections. In establishing the need for such connections, the Township may consider:

Buffers for Adjacent Public Parkland. Where the proposed development adjoins public parkland, a natural greenway land buffer at least 150 feet deep shall be provided within the development along its common boundary with the parkland. No new buildings shall be constructed within the buffer. Clearing of trees or understory growth shall not be permitted, except as may be necessary for street or trail construction or for the removal of invasive plant species.

Unconstrained greenway land may be used to satisfy the requirement of mandatory dedication of land for on-site park, recreation and open space, as described in SALDO § 22-426, Subsection 2.A(1), where:

No portion of any building lot may be used for meeting the minimum greenway land requirement, except as permitted within conservancy lots, described in § 27-11.110, Subsection 1.D.

Pedestrian and maintenance access shall be provided to greenway land in accordance with the following requirements:

Greenway land that is not wooded or farmed shall be landscaped, in accordance with the requirements of SALDO § 22-428 and stewarded or managed per a plan prepared in accordance with SALDO Appendix 22-D.[2]

Easements shall be granted to a land conservancy meeting the requirements in § 27-11.110, Subsection 1.C. The grantee shall have the rights of reasonable entry and enforcement.

The property made subject to the conservation easement shall be described by metes and bounds, by an exhibit containing the subdivision plan and designating the property, and photographs which illustrate the nature and character of the property and any special environmental features identified by the Planning Commission during the subdivision process.

Grantors shall declare that the terms of the easement shall run with the land and bind the property in perpetuity for the benefit of the grantee.

The uses of property subject to the conservation easement shall be limited by the permitted uses defined by § 27-11.108 of this Part. The following use restrictions shall also apply:

The form of the conservation easement shall be acceptable to and approved by the Township and the authorized representative of the grantee before final approval of the development plan by the Township.

When greenway land totals less than five acres gross area.

If no entity is available to hold a conservation easement on required greenway land.

The Township shall be a beneficiary of the deed restriction with enforcement rights.

The Declaration of Deed Restrictions shall be recorded prior to the recording of the first deed conveying a lot. The Declaration of Deed Restrictions shall ensure the permanent protection and continuance of the greenway land and shall define permitted uses.

It shall be clearly stated in the Declaration of Deed Restrictions that maintenance responsibility for the greenway land shall lie with the property owner.

East Coventry Township.

Homeowners' Association. The greenway land and any common facilities located thereon may be held in common ownership by a homeowners association. If this ownership option is utilized, then all of the requirements, conditions, and other provisions of § 27-1404, Subsection 1.A(6)(c)(1), through (9), inclusive, shall apply and the owner shall demonstrate compliance as to the formation and operation of the homeowners association to the satisfaction of the Township.

Private Conservation Organization or Chester County. Subject to approval of the Township, an owner may transfer either fee simple title of the greenway land or easements on the greenway land to a private non-profit conservation organization or to Chester County, provided that:

Condominiums. Greenway land and associated facilities may be owned in common by the unit owners as a condominium, the documents for which shall be approved by the Board of Supervisors. Such condominium documents shall be in conformance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Condominium Act of 1980, as amended. All greenway land shall be "common elements" or "limited common elements." To the degree applicable, condominium documents shall comply with the provisions of Section 27-1404, Subsection 1.A(6)(c). Condominium documents shall be recorded with the final subdivision and land development plans. At the time of preliminary plan submission, the applicant shall provide draft condominium documents with sufficient detail to demonstrate compliance with this section.

Conservancy Lots. These lots are intended to accommodate working agriculture, tree nurseries, horse farms and other uses where community or public access is undesirable due to the working nature of the landscape or where a large setting is desirable for an historic home. Up to 80% of the required greenway land may be located within one or more privately owned conservancy lots of at least 10 acres provided:

The greenway land shall be maintained or stewarded pursuant to a plan prepared in accordance with SALDO Appendix 22-D.[1]

In the event that the organization established to maintain the greenway land, or any successor organization thereto, fails to maintain all or any portion thereof in reasonable order and condition, the Township may serve written notice upon the owner of record, setting forth the manner in which the owner of record has failed to maintain the greenway land in reasonable order and condition, and may direct the owner to remedy the same within 20 days.

Upon default by any owner or other entity responsible for maintenance of greenway land, where such maintenance is necessary to abate a nuisance, emergency, hazard or other condition threatening persons or property or the public health, safety or welfare, the Township may, but shall not be obligated to, take the following actions: