Eldred Township City Zoning Code

No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this chapter shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth herein. Yards or lots created after the effective date of this chapter shall meet at least the minimum requirements established by this chapter.

No part of a yard or other open space required in connection with any building or use shall be included as part of a yard or open space similarly required for any other building or use, except as may be specifically provided otherwise. (See also § 250-504A.)

Every principal building hereinafter erected shall be located on a lot as defined. There shall not be more than one principal residential building and its accessory structures on one lot, except in the case of single-family attached or multifamily housing developments, mobile home parks, or other land developments approved pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 200, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of Eldred Township.

The width of any lot shall be measured at the minimum building setback line as required for that district. Lots located on cul-de-sac turnarounds or curves in the road or lots of unusual shape may have lot widths of less than those required provided that the average of the front and rear lot line is equal to or greater than the required lot width. In no case however, shall the front lot line have a width of less than 50 feet measured at the road right-of-way.

No portion of a lot included in a street right-of-way shall be included in calculating the lot's area.

Every lot created hereafter shall be adjacent to a public street or shall have access to a public street via a private street or right-of-way approved pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 200, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of Eldred Township.

Projections.

Front yards.

Side yards.

Rear yards.

The maximum height regulations set forth in the district regulation (Article III) shall not apply to spires, belfries, cupolas, chimneys, ventilators, skylights, flag poles, utility poles, solar collectors or related equipment, and ornamental or other necessary mechanical appurtenances normally associated with homes, churches and similar establishments. Such appurtenances shall however be erected only to such height as necessary to accomplish their intended purpose and shall not be used for human occupancy.

Agricultural or industrial structures, such as barns, silos, grain elevators, storage tanks or similar types of structures generally erected to heights exceeding the maximum height limits established in the district regulations (Article III) for the zones where they may be located, may also exceed the designated maximum height limits, provided such appurtenances shall be erected only to such height as is necessary to accomplish their intended purpose, and in the case of industrial structures, are set back a distance equal to their height from all property lines.

Communications antennas and towers may also exceed the maximum height regulations contained in the district regulations, provided they meet all height and setback requirements set forth in § 250-425 of this chapter.

Notwithstanding the exceptions outlined above, the location and height of all structures shall be in accordance with all applicable rules, regulations, standards and criteria of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration.

Two or more principal uses in the same building. When two or more principal uses occupy the same building (not including home occupations as defined in § 250-427), sufficient off-street parking spaces, lot area, open space, etc., shall be provided so that the standards pertaining to each use will be met in full, unless provided otherwise in this chapter or authorized as part of a land development approved pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 200, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of Eldred Township.

Spacing of nonresidential buildings. When two or more principal buildings intended for nonresidential use are proposed to be situated on one lot, front, side and rear yards shall be required only at the lot lines abutting streets or other properties.

Accessory buildings or structures. An accessory building(s) or structure(s) may be maintained in conjunction with any permitted principal use provided that the following standards are met:

Fences and walls. (See also § 250-506B.)

Clear sight triangle requirements. No fence, wall, sign or other structure shall be erected or altered and no hedge, shrub, tree, or other planting shall be maintained which may cause danger to traffic on a street or road by obscuring a driver's view at a street or driveway intersection. In particular, no obstruction or planting measuring higher than 30 inches or hanging lower than eight feet above the established grade of the street at the property line shall be permitted within the clear sight triangle of any intersection. A "clear sight triangle" shall be defined as that area of unobstructed vision at a street intersection formed by lines of sight between points at a given distance from the intersection of the street center lines. These distances shall be as follows:

Maximum building coverage. The percentage of land covered by principal and accessory buildings or structures on each lot shall not be greater than is permitted in District Regulations, Article III, for the district in which the lot is located.

Erosion and sedimentation control. All erosion and sedimentation control requirements set forth in Chapter 200, Subdivision and Land Development, or DEP, Title 25, Chapter 102, Erosion Control, shall be met to the satisfaction of the Township Zoning Officer before the issuance of a zoning permit.

Drainage and stormwater management. All drainage and/or stormwater management standards set forth in Chapter 200, Subdivision and Land Development, and Act 1978-167, the PA Storm Water Management Act,[1] shall be met to the satisfaction of the Township Zoning Officer before the issuance of a zoning permit. As per the requirements of Act 167, the post-development run-off rate of the site shall not exceed the tract's predevelopment runoff rate.

Where a nonresidential use (commenced after the effective date of this chapter) abuts a residential district or residential use, a bufferyard of at least 25 feet in width shall be required, unless provided otherwise in Article III, the district regulations or the supplementary use regulations. Such bufferyard shall be a part of the nonresidential installation and shall be maintained by that property owner.

Bufferyards required for residential uses shall be not less than 15 feet in width, unless provided otherwise in Article IV, Supplementary Use Regulations, of this chapter.

All required bufferyards shall be planted and maintained with vegetative material, such as grass, sod, shrubs, or other evergreens. Where required within bufferyards or in place of bufferyards, screening shall be accomplished in accordance with § 250-506 below.

A bufferyard may be considered as part of the required yard space; however, no storage of materials, buildings, or parking of cars shall be permitted in the bufferyard.

Screen plantings.

Fences or walls.