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Franklin Township Chester County
City Zoning Code

PART 4

AR AGRICULTURAL - RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

§ 27-401 Purpose.

[Ord. 95-07, 12/14/1995, § 400; as amended by Ord. 2003-02, 4/17/2003; and by Ord. 2008-04, 11/19/2008, § 1]
The Agricultural/Residential District (AR) has been created to encourage the use of prime agricultural soils for cultivation and to conserve critical environmental areas by maintaining a relatively low density. The AR District has been located along roads which cannot accommodate high traffic volumes. The use of on-site domestic waste disposal systems shall be provided in order to help replenish the supply of groundwater.

§ 27-402 Use Regulations.

[Ord. 95-07, 12/14/1995, § 401; as amended by Ord. 2001-07, 12/27/2001, § III; by Ord. 2002-01, 2/21/2002, § III; by Ord. 2003-02, 4/17/2003; by Ord. 2006-02, 3/15/2006, §§ 1, 2; by Ord. 2006-05, 10/18/2006, §§ 1, 2; and by Ord. 2008-04, 11/19/2008, § 1]
1. 
Uses Permitted by Right.
A. 
Agriculture and buildings related to agriculture.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-02, 4/20/2016]
B. 
Single-family detached dwellings.
C. 
Nonprofit public or private park, nature center or arboretum.
D. 
Cemeteries.
E. 
The clustering of single-family detached residential lots on tracts of 15 acres or larger is mandatory, subject to the provisions of § 27-1611, except where open space conservation conventional development (§ 27-1615) is proposed. Sites of less than 15 acres may consider the provisions of § 27-1611 as an optional design approach.
F. 
Open space conservation conventional development subject to the provisions of § 27-1615.
G. 
Equestrian uses.
2. 
Permitted Accessory Uses.
A. 
Customary accessory agricultural.
B. 
Customary accessory residential use and buildings.
C. 
Private swimming pool, subject to the provisions of § 27-1713.
D. 
Home occupations, subject to the provisions of § 27-1709.
E. 
The sale of farm products, subject to the provisions of § 27-1716.
F. 
Signs, subject to the provisions of Part 20.
G. 
No-impact home-based business.
3. 
Conditional Use.
A. 
Golf course and golf club uses, subject to the provisions of § 27-1715.
B. 
Municipal, county, state and federal uses, excluding dumps, sanitary landfills and corrections or penal institutions.
C. 
Private club, lodge or nonprofit recreational use, subject to the provisions of § 22-611 of Chapter 22, Subdivision and Land Development, and § 27-1610.
D. 
Retirement homes and facilities subject to the provisions of Part 17. Maximum gross density is subject to the underlying zoning district standards as specified in § 27-1611.
E. 
Conventional single-family design for tracts larger than 15 acres.
4. 
Uses by Special Exception.
A. 
Cultural, educational or religious uses.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection 4B, which immediately followed, permitting residential conversion by special exception, was repealed by Ord. No. 2019-01, 1/16/2019.

§ 27-403 Height Regulations.

[Ord. 95-07, 12/14/1995, § 402; as amended by Ord. 2003-02, 4/17/2003]
The maximum height of structures or uses erected or enlarged shall be 35 feet.

§ 27-404 Area and Bulk Provisions.

[Ord. 95-07, 12/14/1995, § 403; as amended by Ord. 2003-02, 4/17/2003; and by Ord. 2015-02, 6/17/2015]
1. 
The following area and bulk regulations shall apply to all uses and structures permitted within the AR District:
Provisions
Residential Use Requirements
Other Use Requirements
Conventional
Open Space Design
Individual Sewer
Community Sewer
Minimum lot area (square feet)
80,000
30,000
18,000
80,000
Maximum coverage:
Building
8%
15%
20%
15%
Lot
15%
25%
35%
30%
Minimum landscaped or open space
20% for tracts greater than 15 acres
55%
55%
70%
Minimum lot width (feet):
Building line
150
120
100
150
Street line
50
50
50
75
Minimum front yard setbacks (feet):
State roads
75
50
50
75
All other roads
50
40
35
50
Minimum side yard setbacks (feet):
Individual
20
15
10
20
Aggregate
50
30
30
50
Minimum rear yard setbacks (feet)
50
30
25
50
Accessory structure:
Maximum allowable
N/A
2
1
N/A
Minimum setbacks (feet):
Front yard
Not permitted
Not permitted
Not permitted
Side yard
10
5
5
10
Rear yard
15
5
5
15
Parking lot1 setback from all roads and adjoining property lines (feet)
50
50
50
50
NOTES:
1
Exclusive of parking associated with individual dwelling units.
2. 
All barns or areas for the deposit, curing, or storage of mushroom substrate, compost or manure shall be located the greater of:
[Added by Ord. 2016-02, 4/20/2016]
A. 
The distance required under an approved mushroom farm environmental management plan ("MFEMP"), manure management plan, or nutrient management plan, as applicable to an operation; or
B. 
One hundred feet from any property lines, unless the owner of the adjacent property has provided a written waiver consenting to the barn or area being closer than 100 feet.

§ 27-405 Design Standards.

[Ord. 95-07, 12/14/1995, § 404; as amended by Ord. 2003-02, 4/17/2003]
1. 
The following design standards shall apply:
A. 
Residential Uses.
(1) 
Refer to regulations established in Part 16.
(2) 
Refer to regulations established in Part 15.
B. 
All Other Uses Permitted in the District.
(1) 
Refer to regulations established in Part 16.
(2) 
Refer to regulations established in Part 15.