Leacock Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Village Residential V-R Zone
§ 310-39 Purpose.
The purpose of the Village Residential (V-R) Zone is to provide a range of basic housing types in existing higher density areas in Village growth areas in the Township where public sewers are existing.
§ 310-40 Permitted uses.
A.
Any form of agriculture, subject to the requirements under Article IV, § 310-17, and §§ 310-150 and 310-165; and further provided that the commercial keeping and handling of poultry, livestock, bees and other domestic or wild animals shall not be maintained on tracts of less than 10 acres in size. The construction or enlargement of livestock and cattle houses shall also be subject to § 310-179.
B.
Single-family detached dwellings.
C.
Semidetached dwellings.
D.
Churches, synagogues and other places of worship, provided that the use does not exceed three acres, subject to the provisions of § 310-176.
E.
Cemeteries.
F.
Domestic pets; provided, however, that kennels shall not be permitted.
G.
Parks and playgrounds.
H.
School uses, public or private, on lots of two acres or less, subject to the provisions of § 310-217.
P.
Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to the above permitted uses.
§ 310-41 Special exceptions.
The following uses are permitted when special exceptions are granted by written approval of the Zoning Hearing Board. In granting any special exceptions, the Board may attach such reasonable conditions and safeguards, in addition to those expressed in this chapter, as it may deem necessary to implement the purposes of this chapter.
C.
Church-related uses, such as social halls, picnic grounds, etc., subject to the provisions of § 310-176.
D.
Elder cottage housing units on lots of less than five acres, subject to the provisions of § 310-183.
F.
Conversion apartment houses, not to exceed two units in the structure, subject to the requirements of § 310-181.
H.
Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to the above uses.
§ 310-42 Height and area regulations of principal buildings.
A.
Maximum height: 35 feet.
B.
Minimum lot area. Minimum lot area is as follows, unless a different minimum lot size is required for a use permitted by right or by special exception:
(1)
The minimum lot area per dwelling unit or other principal nonresidential building when not served by public sanitary sewer shall be one acre, unless a larger lot area is required to meet all applicable setbacks and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) requirements for the location of on-site water supply and sewage disposal facilities, including replacement system location.
(2)
The minimum lot area per dwelling unit or other principal nonresidential building when served by public sanitary sewer shall be 10,000 square feet.
(3)
The minimum lot area for semidetached dwellings shall be 7,500 square feet for each dwelling unit, if served by public sanitary sewer facilities.
(4)
The minimum lot area for conversion apartment houses shall be based on a minimum of 5,000 square feet per dwelling unit, if served by public sanitary sewer facilities.
C.
Minimum lot width.
(1)
The minimum lot width for those lots that are served neither by public sanitary sewers nor public water facilities shall be 150 feet at the building setback line.
(2)
The minimum lot width for single-family detached dwellings and other principal nonresidential buildings served by public sewers shall be 70 feet at the building setback line.
(3)
The minimum lot width for semidetached dwellings served by public sewers shall be 40 feet at the building setback line for each dwelling unit.
(4)
The minimum lot width for conversion apartment houses served by public sewers shall be 80 feet at the building setback line.
D.
Minimum lot depth: 125 feet.
F.
Side yard.
(1)
Single-family detached dwellings and other principal nonresidential buildings shall have two side yards, neither of which shall be less than eight feet in width.
(2)
Semidetached dwellings shall have one side yard per dwelling unit, which shall be a minimum of 10 feet in width.
(3)
Conversion apartment houses shall have two side yards, neither of which shall be less than 12 feet in width.
G.
Rear yard. Rear yards shall be a minimum of 35 feet in depth.
H.
Maximum lot coverage. Not more than 60% of the area of the lot shall be covered by buildings.
I.
Maximum impervious coverage. Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, in all other instances not more than 75% of the area of the lot shall be covered by impervious surfaces.
§ 310-43 Height and yard requirements of accessory buildings with building footprint not exceeding 200 square feet.
§ 310-44 Height and yard requirements of accessory buildings with building footprint of 200 square feet or greater.
The following regulations apply to unattached buildings for accessory uses with a building footprint of 200 square feet or greater.
A.
Maximum building height: 26 feet from the lowest finished floor elevation. In the case of a sloping lot, this maximum building height may be increased by special exception, subject to the following considerations:
B.
Minimum yard setbacks.
(1)
Front: the minimum front yard setback shall be equal to the distance required for principal buildings.
(2)
Side: 12 feet.
(3)
Rear: six feet.
(4)
Where the proposed accessory building will be located adjacent to an existing residential use or a residential zoning district boundary line, the side and/or rear yard setback shall be the required minimum or a distance equal to the height of the accessory building, whichever is greater.
§ 310-45 Vegetation setbacks for lots abutting Agricultural Zone.
The purpose of the Agricultural Zone is to encourage and protect productive farming and agricultural practices. The growth of large trees and shrubs adjacent to the Agricultural Zone may result in excessive shading and, therefore, reduce the growth of valuable crops. Therefore, no tree or shrub which may attain a height of 20 feet or more shall be planted or allowed to grow within 10 feet of any lot line which abuts an area within an Agricultural Zone.