Hampton Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Establishment of Zoning Districts
§ 310-28 Division of Township into districts.
The Township of Hampton is hereby divided into 12 classes of zoning districts as shown graphically on the Official Zoning Map. These classes of districts, together with the general objectives for establishing each, are as follows:
A.
Conservation A District. This district includes land that is used for recreation, municipal or educational purposes which, if used intensively, would unduly harm the public health, safety and/or welfare. Much of this land is on steep slopes subject to landslides and excessive siltation of streams, and in floodplains. Development of these areas would alter drainage patterns, create severe erosion problems and damage to downstream areas, as well as endangering human lives and property affected by such development. The publicly owned areas, in particular, help to establish an open space network, relieving the patterns of more intense development surrounding them. All the areas are significant in enabling the Township Council to fulfill its responsibilities under Article 1, S. 27 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania. Recognizing that in a few instances the primary uses for this district may not provide a reasonable economic use of particular property, some conditional uses are provided for. It is the intent that within this Conservation District, such conditional uses be limited strictly to prevent building on steep slopes where landslides or excessive erosion and sedimentation of streams are likely to result, or in floodplains (subject to one-hundred-year base flood), or where the values protected by Article 1, S. 27, of the Constitution of Pennsylvania will be harmed. (See § 310-32.)
B.
Conservation B District. This district includes land that is held in large tracts as estates, as farms, or as privately owned outdoor recreation areas. (See § 310-33.)
C.
Residential A District. This district includes land that has already been, or may be, developed into residential lots of one acre or greater in area, and adjacent or nearby land whose location and character suggest large lot development as the highest and best use. (See § 310-34.)
D.
Residential B District. This district includes land that has already been, or may be, developed into residential lots of 1/2 acre or greater in area, and adjacent or nearby land of similar character, with reasonably good access to public utilities, major roads and community facilities. These areas suggest development for lots of medium size, and compatible residential development or supporting facilities, such as schools, playgrounds and churches. (See § 310-35.)
E.
Residential C District. This district includes land of exceptional opportunity for residential development because of unusual proximity to major highways, public utilities and community facilities and therefore offers the best location for a relatively denser pattern of single-family lots and multifamily development. (See § 310-36.)
F.
Residential D District. This district includes land where multifamily residential dwelling units in conjunction with certain limited commercial uses are likely to occur. This district is developed to provide a variety of dwelling types within the Township. This district offers the best locations for higher-density development, with access to arterial roads, including structures which combine certain commercial uses with apartments, as well as providing for a buffer area between heavier developed commercial zones and residential districts. As such, development is limited to those uses expressly permitted. (See § 310-37.)
G.
Highway Commercial District. This district includes land abutting major traffic arteries that has developed or is well suited for sales and service activities that normally require a market greater than the Township to succeed. (See § 310-38.)
H.
Highway Commercial PNRD Overlay District: This district encompasses the Highway Commercial Zoning District from Wildwood Road to the Township's northern border. (See Article IX.B)
I.
Neighborhood Commercial District. This district includes strategically located land at crossroads of important local streets. These areas have developed or may be developed for commercial activities that support the daily needs of residential neighborhoods in the vicinity. (See § 310-39.)
J.
Light Industrial District. This district includes land in large, relatively flat parcels with good highway access and available utilities that have been developed, or may be developed by light manufacturing or similar industry-oriented uses that are compatible neighbors in a basically residential community. (See § 310-40.)
K.
Heavy Industrial District. This district includes land that is insulated from residential development, has access to railroad transportation and/or arterial roads, and that have been developed or may be developed for heavy manufacturing uses. (See § 310-41.)
L.
Office, Research and Development District. This district includes land still in large parcels that has access to arterial roads, is fairly level and acts as a buffer between adjacent residential areas and nearby downgrading influences, such as heavily traveled highways or industrial operations. Uses that will be least disruptive to residential areas are permitted in this district.
§ 310-29 Overlay districts.
A.
Stormwater Management Overlay Districts.
(1)
In addition to the zoning districts as delineated on the Official Zoning Map, the Township of Hampton is hereby divided into a series of overlay districts, the boundaries of which conform to the edges of watersheds and watershed sub-basins within the Township. The boundaries of the districts are graphically shown on the map titled "Plate 1, Allegheny County Stormwater Management Plan, Girty's Run, Pine Creek, Deer Creek, Squaw Run," a part of the Allegheny County Stormwater Management Plan for the Pine Creek and Deer Creek watersheds, which map is adopted by reference as part of this chapter.
(2)
These districts are established according to the boundaries of the watersheds designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in accordance with the Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Act (Act 167 of 1978, as amended)[1] and the watershed stormwater management plans prepared pursuant thereto for the Pine Creek and Deer Creek watersheds.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 32 P.S. § 680.1 et seq.
(3)
The stormwater management overlay districts are established separately from the floodplain management districts, which include those areas of the Township of Hampton subject to inundation during the one-hundred-year flood, as shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map and Flood Insurance Study, copies of which are available in the Township office.
(4)
All uses or lots, in all districts, shall comply with the requirements and standards for stormwater runoff in the stormwater management district in which the use or lot is located, as contained in Chapter 266, Stormwater Management (as amended), and applicable provisions of the current enacted municipal building code(s).[2]
§ 310-30 Environmentally Critical Areas Overlay Map.
The Environmentally Critical Areas Overlay Map identifies those areas of the Township which indicate severe development constraints, i.e., steep slopes (greater than 15%), floodplains, etc., in which all development shall be limited through this and other applicable ordinances.