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Hamilton Township Adams County
City Zoning Code

ARTICLE VIII

Moderate Density Residential R-3 District

§ 150-40 Statement of legislative intent.

It is the intent of the Moderate Density Residential (R-3) District to establish reasonable standards to provide a mixture of residential opportunities within the District. Furthermore, it is the intent of this article to:
A. 
Provide for moderate-density residential uses, such as townhouses, garden apartments, and mobile home parks, in appropriate areas of the R-3 District, in accordance with specified development standards.
B. 
Exclude incompatible commercial and industrial uses from locating in those areas of Hamilton Township that have experienced or are likely to experience predominately residential development.
C. 
Encourage development patterns that will, over the long run, result in the efficient provision of public services as well as for the preservation of open space areas that may be appropriate for recreation or conservation purposes.
D. 
Limit development density to levels that are compatible with the rural nature of Hamilton Township and which are compatible with existing development patterns and densities within the Township.

§ 150-41 Principal uses permitted by right.

A. 
Forestry, excluding permanent saw mills, pursuant to § 150-98.
B. 
Government offices, municipal buildings.
C. 
Parks and recreation facilities and easements, public and private.
D. 
Public utility uses.
E. 
Single-family detached dwellings.
F. 
Single-family semidetached dwellings.
G. 
Two-family dwellings (duplexes).
H. 
Mobile home parks, pursuant to § 150-98.
[Added 9-10-2018]

§ 150-42 Accessory uses permitted by right.

A structure may be erected or used, and a lot may be used for the following permitted accessory uses and no other:
A. 
Wind energy systems, pursuant to § 150-96.
[Amended 9-13-2021]
B. 
No-impact home-based businesses, pursuant to § 150-96.
C. 
Other accessory uses and structures on the same lot that are customarily incidental to the uses permitted by right per this section, pursuant § 150-96.
D. 
Wireless communications antennas mounted on an existing public utility transmission tower, building, or other structure, along with associated communications equipment buildings, pursuant to § 150-98JJ.
E. 
Accessory solar energy systems (ASES), pursuant to § 150-96.
[Added 9-13-2021]

§ 150-43 Uses permitted by special exception.

The following uses are permitted by special exception in accordance with the performance standards contained in this chapter and any additional standards that the Hamilton Township Zoning Hearing Board may deem necessary to apply:
A. 
Accessory dwelling units (ADU), pursuant to § 150-96.
B. 
Cluster residential development, pursuant to § 150-98.
C. 
Cottage industries.
D. 
Group homes, pursuant to § 150-98.
E. 
Home occupations, pursuant to § 150-98.
F. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection F, regarding mobile homes, was repealed 9-10-2018.
G. 
Multifamily community or apartment complex, pursuant to § 150-98.
H. 
Places of worship.
I. 
Schools, public and private.
J. 
Townhouse community, pursuant to § 150-98.

§ 150-44 Area and bulk requirements.

[Amended 9-10-2018; 3-2-2020; 7-7-2025]
The following standards shall govern all uses, subdivision projects, and land development plans within the R-3 District:
A. 
Maximum density.
(1) 
The maximum density for any residential development within the R-3 District shall be two dwelling units per acre.
(2) 
Where an applicant proposes a cluster development, the maximum density for the residential development shall be four dwelling units per acre.
(3) 
The maximum density for a mobile home park within the R- 3 District shall be the density established in Article VI, Mobile Home Parks, in the Hamilton Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. [1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 120, Subdivision and Land Development.
(4) 
Where an applicant chooses to develop a cluster development, the maximum density for the residential development shall be applied to the total acreage remaining after the required cluster development open space has been removed.
B. 
Minimum lot size.
(1) 
The minimum lot size for lots with on-lot sewer and/or water systems shall be one acre per dwelling unit. The minimum lot size for lots with public sewer and water shall be 20,000 square feet for single-family detached dwellings, 15,000 square feet per unit for single-family semidetached dwellings or two-family dwellings, and 3,000 square feet for townhouses.
(2) 
For cluster development proposed in accordance with the standards established by § 150-98 of this chapter, the minimum lot size shall be 10,000 square feet for single-family detached dwellings, 7,500 square feet per unit for single-family semidetached dwellings or two-family dwellings, and 2,000 square feet for townhouses.
C. 
Minimum lot width.
(1) 
The minimum lot width shall be 100 feet for single-family detached dwellings, 75 feet per unit for single-family semidetached dwellings or two-family dwellings, and 25 feet for townhouses.
(2) 
For cluster development proposed in accordance with the standards established by § 150-98 of this chapter, the minimum lot width shall be 75 feet for single-family detached dwellings, 50 feet per unit for single-family semidetached dwellings or two-family dwellings, and 20 feet for townhouses.
D. 
The maximum lot coverage shall be 40%.
E. 
Front yard.
(1) 
The minimum front yard depth shall be 20 feet.
(2) 
For cluster developments proposed in accordance with the standards established by § 150-98 of this chapter, the minimum front yard depth shall be 10 feet.
F. 
Side yard.
(1) 
The minimum side yard depth shall be 20 feet.
(2) 
For cluster developments proposed in accordance with the standards established by § 150-98 of this chapter, the minimum side yard depth shall be 10 feet.
G. 
Rear yard.
(1) 
The minimum rear yard depth shall be 25 feet.
(2) 
For cluster developments proposed in accordance with the standards established by § 150-98 of this chapter, the minimum rear yard depth shall be 15 feet.
H. 
Maximum building height.
(1) 
The maximum building height shall be 35 feet.
I. 
For corner lots, the minimum front yard depth, as established by Subsection E above, shall be applied to both sides of the property with road frontage. The minimum rear depth, as established by Subsection G above, shall be applied to all other sides of the property.
J. 
The minimum vegetative coverage shall be 60%.

§ 150-45 Supplemental regulations.

The uses permitted in this district are also subject to the applicable regulations contained in the following sections of this chapter:
A. 
Article XIV - General Regulations.
B. 
Article XV - Performance Standards.
C. 
Article XVI - Sign Regulations.
D. 
Article XVII - Off-Street Parking and Loading Regulations.