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Franklin Township Beaver County
City Zoning Code

ARTICLE V

R-1 Low Density Residential

§ 330-18 Purpose.

The Township is essentially a community of homes. Beyond the old established residential plans, the western third of the Township has become a suburban area of evolving contemporary lot plans. Public water is available in parts of this zone district, but sewers are not. The Low Density Residential Zone includes very little prime farmland but much easily developed land and good highway access. Single-family homes on their own lots of an acre or more should be the predominant use, but appropriate community uses, such as churches, are encouraged, as well as some farming.

§ 330-19 Permitted uses.

Lot or property may be used, and a building or structure may be erected or used, within this Zoning District, for any of the following:
A. 
Principal uses.
(1) 
Single-family detached dwelling.
(2) 
Individual mobile home on own lot.
(3) 
Retirement community.
(4) 
Churches and other places of worship, including educational and community buildings, parish houses, and parking.
(5) 
Municipal, public authority and emergency service facilities.
(6) 
Public utilities rights-of-way and structures.
(7) 
Nursery and agricultural field operations.
(8) 
Principal uses shall not include the raising, boarding, breeding, keeping or permitting of any livestock or poultry or any animals other than household pets on the premises.
(9) 
Essential services.
[Added 3-9-2005]
(10) 
Forestry.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B. 
Accessory uses.
(1) 
Private garage and/or parking area.
(2) 
Private on-lot recreation facilities.
(3) 
Private kennels or stables.
(4) 
Minor residentially related structures.
(5) 
No-impact home-based business.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

§ 330-20 Conditional uses.

A. 
Nursing homes.
B. 
Schools accredited by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but not including vocational or trade schools.
C. 
General farming.
D. 
Keeping of horses and stables as an accessory use pursuant to the following standards and conditions:
(1) 
Any horses to be kept on the property shall be owned by the residents of the property.
(2) 
The horses shall be kept as pets or for personal enjoyment by residents.
(3) 
The residents shall not engage in the business of buying or selling horses and shall not use the horses for any commercial purpose, but this shall not prevent the entering of the horses in shows or competitions off the premises.
(4) 
The premises on which the horses are to be kept shall contain not more than one residence and shall be at least three acres in size. When determining the size of the lot for the purpose of this conditional use, all improved land (e.g., land with a residence or shed on it) and land scheduled to be improved is excluded from the calculation; however, land used or scheduled to be used for stables may be included when determining lot size. Should additional improvements be made after this calculation, the size of the lot shall be recalculated and the number of horses reduced (if required) to the new maximum. If more than one lot is combined for the purpose of meeting the minimum lot size requirements, the minimum/maximum requirements shall be recalculated if it is desired to remove the additional lot(s) from the calculation.
(5) 
The number of horses permitted to be kept as an accessory use shall be limited to one horse for each full acre over and above the three-acre minimum described in Subsection D(4) above.
(6) 
A stable shall be provided that has an adequately sized stall for each horse to be kept. The stable shall be located a minimum of 100 feet from any property line. Requests for a waiver of the 100-foot minimum distance may be presented along with supporting justification for this request.
(7) 
All fence lines shall be a minimum of 20 feet from any property line (except for the property lines of lots combined to meet the requirements of this conditional use).
(8) 
The residents shall meet the following performance standards:
(a) 
The stable shall be kept safe, clean and neat and in good repair.
(b) 
The residents shall control odor, bugs, insects, vermin and rodents.
(c) 
The residents shall keep unattended horses within the fenced enclosure(s), in the stable or attached to restraining devices and shall keep the fences and equipment in good repair. Fences constructed for the exterior fence line shall be constructed of wooden materials, woven wire, pipe or PC materials and be at least 48 inches high with posts not more than 10 feet apart. Electric fence may be used for partition fences, where applicable, but shall not be used for an exterior fence. (Electric fencing may be attached to, but inside, the exterior fence.)
(d) 
The fenced lot shall be so located and managed so that it does not become and remain muddy due to weather conditions, from surface drainage or from activity of the confined horses, and drainage should prevent any standing water from accumulating. The fenced area should not be extended to reach streams running through the property.
(e) 
The residents shall not permit or allow manure piles or other wastes to accumulate which cause offensive odors or sights. Manure generally produces odors when it is allowed to accumulate. By eliminating these conditions, odor, fly and rodent problems can be minimized. The manure disposal area must be in a low-profile position, cause no nuisance and be at least 100 feet from a property line. Requests for a waiver of the 100-foot minimum distance may be presented along with supporting justification for this request.
(f) 
The installation of artificial lighting shall be such that it does not create a nuisance to surrounding property owners.
(9) 
All minimum lot, area and dimensional requirements are still applicable where they are not modified by the above requirements.
(10) 
Any requirements for fencing or limitations on the fencing, as discussed in this conditional use, only apply to fences installed to meet the requirements of this conditional use.
E. 
Mineral extraction subject to the standards and criteria attached hereto.
[Added 12-12-2011]

§ 330-21 Special exceptions.

A. 
Two-family detached dwellings.
B. 
Private membership club.
C. 
Bed-and-breakfast.
D. 
Overland public utility lines.
E. 
Private kennels or stables.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 504F, regarding home occupations, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 330-22 Bulk and dimensional standards.

A. 
Minimum lot area.
(1) 
Single-family detached dwelling: 21,780 square feet.
(2) 
Two-family dwelling: 21,780 square feet.
(3) 
All other uses with public sewers or water lines: 21,780 square feet.
(4) 
Any use without public sewers or water lines: 43,560 square feet.
B. 
Minimum lot width.
(1) 
All uses: 75 feet.
C. 
Minimum setback lines.
(1) 
Front: 35 feet.
(2) 
Side yard, each side: 10 feet.
(3) 
Side yard, abutting street: 35 feet.
(4) 
Rear yard: 35 feet.
(5) 
Accessory building, side or rear: five feet.
D. 
Maximum height:
[Amended 3-9-2005]
(1) 
All principal buildings: 45 feet.
(2) 
All accessory buildings: 15 feet. (Note: No accessory structure can exceed 75% of the height of the principal structure.)
E. 
Maximum lot coverage (all buildings on lot).
(1) 
Total area occupied by buildings, divided by lot area: 30%.
(2) 
Accessory buildings on part of coverage, total: 5%.
F. 
The setback distances contained in this section shall not apply to property in plans of subdivision recorded prior to the effective date of Chapter 275, Subdivision and Land Development. For such lots, the setback distances contained in Chapter 275, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Township's Code shall be in effect and shall supersede the setback distances contained in this chapter.
[Added 3-9-2005]