The regulations of this district are designed to accommodate the existing state and federally controlled lands and activities within the Township, as well as to provide for similar governmental, recreational and institutional uses that are compatible.

Military operations nuisance disclaimer. The majority of the lands within the INS - Institutional Zoning District are located within an area where land is used for military operations. Owners, residents, and other users in this district, and in the Township overall, may be subjected to inconvenience, discomfort, and the possibility of injury to property and health arising from normal and accepted military operations and practices, including, but not limited to, noise, vibration, odors, dust, the operation of machinery of any kind including aircraft and military vehicles, and the discharge of weapons. Owners, occupants, and users in this district, and in the Township overall, should be prepared to accept such inconveniences, discomfort, and possibility of injury from such military operations, and are hereby put on official notice that federal and state laws may bar them from obtaining a legal judgment against such military operations.

State-owned property and governmental uses. Such property and uses shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter only insofar as permitted by the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Federally owned property and governmental uses. Such property and uses shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter only insofar as permitted by the Constitution and laws of the United States government.

Agriculture, truck farming, gardening, flower and tree nurseries, and commercial greenhouses, but not including animal husbandry or pet kennels.

Public conservation areas and structures for the conservation of open space, water, soil, forest and wildlife resources.

Public park and recreation areas, forest preserves, camps, game refuges and similar non-intensive uses.

Churches and similar places of worship and parish houses.

Nursery, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high schools.

Municipal buildings and community facilities such as police and fire protection facilities, museums, libraries, etc.

Single-family dwellings.

Customary accessory uses and buildings incidental to any of the above permitted uses as provided for in Article XIX of this chapter, and including, but not limited to home occupations and no-impact home-based businesses, as defined in § 250-171 of this chapter.

Hospitals, nursing, or convalescent homes and cemeteries.

Nonprofit, church related homes for the elderly, including custodial or sanitarium type of care, intermediate care involving dormitory areas with common meal facilities, and individual residential living quarters with separate cooking facilities, provided that the following conditions are met:

Semipublic and private recreation uses such as golf courses, country clubs, swimming and/or tennis clubs, provided that no principal building, accessory structure, pool, tennis court, or parking area is located within 100 feet of any road right-of-way line or lot line. Additionally, swimming pools associated with these uses shall be completely enclosed with a continuous, impenetrable fence no less than six feet in height above the ground level and the fence shall be equipped with a lockable gate.

Institutions of higher education, convents, and monasteries provided that the following conditions are met:

Communications towers and antennas subject to § 250-245 of this chapter.

Where a side or rear yard adjoins a residential district, said yards shall be no less than 50 feet.

No building shall exceed 2 1/2 stories or 35 feet in height unless authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board.