East Vincent Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 5
RC-RURAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT
§ 27-501 Purpose.
[Ord. 162, 6/12/2002, § 500; as amended by Ord. 220, 7/24/2012, § 2]
1.
In addition to the general goals and purposes expressed in the Statement of Community Development Objectives (§ 27-106), the RC - Rural Conservation District is established for the following purposes:
A.
To preserve and promote continued agricultural, open space, and conservation uses, perpetuating the rural character of the area and facilitating the conservation of land, water and cultural resources.
B.
To assure a healthful water supply from on-lot wells and the safe disposal of sewage waste to on-lot systems.
C.
To provide for low density residential development generally consistent with existing residential development patterns.
§ 27-502 Use Regulations.
[Ord. 162, 6/12/2002, § 501; as amended by Ord. 166, 10/16/2002; by Ord. 182, 12/1/2005, § 4; and by Ord. 220, 7/24/2012, § 2]
1.
Uses by Right. Within the RC-Rural Conservation District a building may be erected, altered, or used, and a lot may be used for only one of the following purposes as a use by right:
B.
Conservation uses including woodlands preserve, game preserve, arboretum or other similar use.
C.
Single family detached dwellings in accordance with § 27-503.2 of this chapter.
D.
Municipal uses.
E.
Public school.
F.
Forestry, where conducted in compliance with the provisions of § 22-429.2 of the East Vincent Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22].
G.
National cemetery containing a minimum lot area of 170 acres.
2.
Uses by Special Exception. Within the RC-Rural Conservation District the following uses may be permitted by the Zoning Hearing Board as a special exception in accordance with Part 20. Special exception uses shall be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and shall not be detrimental to public health, safety, or welfare:
A.
Church or similar place of worship, including rectory or parish house.
B.
Educational use other than public school.
D.
Public or private golf course, country club, riding stable, commercial driving ranges, or other outdoor recreational use or similar club or lodge, provided that:
(1)
The minimum area of the property on which the use is conducted shall not be less than 10 acres.
(2)
Each structure shall be clearly incidental to the outdoor use.
(3)
Any club or lodge building and its services shall be for the use of members and their guests only.
(4)
No commercial activity or use such as campground, amusement park, pitch and putt or miniature golf course, and similar uses customarily carried on as businesses, shall be permitted.
(5)
The use and design are compatible with the natural character of the area.
3.
Conditional Uses. Where approved by the Board of Supervisors as a conditional use, the following uses will be permitted within the RC-Rural Conservation District, subject to the conditions and procedures in Part 19:
A.
Telecommunication facilities on tall structures as provided in § 27-1606B(2) and subject to full compliance with the provisions of § 27-1606. Telecommunications facilities as provided in § 27-1606B(2) shall not be permitted in portions of the RC-Rural Conservation District overlain by the FC-French Creek Scenic Corridor District.
4.
Accessory Uses. The following accessory uses shall be permitted, where in compliance with all applicable provisions of Part 16 and provided that they shall be incidental to any of the foregoing permitted uses:
§ 27-503 Area and Bulk Regulations.
[Ord. 162, 6/12/2002, § 504; as amended by Ord. 220, 7/24/2012, § 2]
1.
Agriculture. Tracts or lots used for agricultural purposes shall meet the following standards:
A.
Minimum lot size: 20 acres. Existing lots less than 20 acres in size as of the date of adoption of this chapter may be used for agricultural purposes subject to compliance with all other applicable regulations herein.
B.
Minimum lot width at street line: 200 feet.
C.
Minimum setback at building setback line: 75 feet.
D.
Minimum side yard: 50 feet each.
E.
Minimum rear yard: 100 feet.
F.
Maximum building coverage: 8%.
G.
Maximum impervious cover: 10%.
H.
Maximum building height: 35 feet. Barns, silos, and bulk bins shall be exempt from the maximum building height limit when attached to an existing structure or located such that the distance from the base of the barn, silo, or bulk bin to both the nearest property line and the nearest street right-of-way line is no less that the height of said barn, silo, or bulk bin.
2.
Residential Uses. Residential development of single family detached dwellings shall comply with the following standards:
A.
On any tract undergoing subdivision or land development for residential purposes, the total maximum number of residential units, including new and existing units, shall be equal to:
(1)
Gross tract area in acres x 0.20.
(2)
Computations resulting in fractional numbers of units shall be rounded to the nearest whole number; fractions of one-half shall be rounded up. On existing lots less than five acres in area as of the date of adoption of this chapter, a single family detached dwelling may be erected subject to compliance with all other applicable regulations herein.
B.
Each lot used for a single family detached dwelling shall be as follows:
(1)
Minimum lot size: 2.5 acres.
(2)
Minimum lot width at building line: 150 feet.
(3)
Minimum lot width at street line: 50 feet.
(4)
Minimum setback at building setback line: 50 feet.
(5)
Minimum side yard: 25 feet each.
(6)
Minimum rear yard: 40 feet.
(7)
Maximum impervious cover: 20%.
(8)
Maximum building coverage: 10%.
(9)
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
C.
When the maximum number of residential lots has been created, as determined by Subsection 2A above, any remaining lands and/or any residential lots of five acres or more, regardless of use, shall be restricted from further subdivision or development for other than open space purposes by deed restriction, conservation easement, or other agreement in a form acceptable to the Township and duly recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Chester County. Such restrictions shall not preclude such remaining lands from inclusion in calculation of available transferable development rights nor from leasing for agricultural uses as defined by this chapter.
D.
Where any lot is served by an individual on-site sewage system, a contiguous net lot area of at least 30,000 square feet shall be provided which shall not be divided completely by any of the following areas:
3.
All Other Uses. Tracts or lots used for any other principal use permitted by right, special exception or conditional use, except where otherwise provided in this chapter, shall meet the following standards:
A.
Each new lot for any permitted use shall be as follows:
(1)
Minimum lot size: five acres.
(2)
Minimum lot width at building line: 200 feet.
(3)
Minimum lot width at street line: 50 feet.
(4)
Minimum setback at building setback line: 50 feet.
(5)
Minimum side yard: 25 feet each.
(6)
Minimum rear yard: 40 feet.
(7)
Maximum impervious cover: 20%.
(8)
Maximum building coverage: 10%.
(9)
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
B.
Where any lot is served by an individual on-site sewage system, a contiguous net lot area of at least 30,000 square feet shall be provided which shall not be divided completely by any of the following areas:
§ 27-504 General Design Standards.
[Ord. 162, 6/12/2002, § 503]