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Londonderry Township Chester County
City Zoning Code

ARTICLE V

RA-2 Residential Agricultural District

§ 170-22 Purpose.

The purpose of the RA-2 Residential Agricultural District is to maximize opportunities for the continuance of agricultural uses and associated open, natural lands while providing for such residential uses and designs as will blend with and perpetuate the characteristic landscapes of the area. Where residential development occurs, the district offers site design flexibility that encourages more efficient use of land, the avoidance of impacts on natural features, and protected open space adjacent to residences.

§ 170-23 Permitted uses.

[Amended 7-8-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
Permitted uses are as follows:
A. 
Agriculture, including an indoor riding facility and uses conducted within such facility, in accordance with § 170-117 of this chapter.
[Amended 12-30-2003; 6-28-2010 by Ord. No. 01-2010]
B. 
Single-family detached dwelling on an existing lot, or single-family detached dwellings on lots proposed to be created through subdivision of a tract into not more than three lots where the open space design option is not utilized.
C. 
Open space design option, consistent with the terms of Article VIII.
D. 
Public use, structure, or building owned or operated by the Township, or by an Authority created by the Township, subject to other supplementary regulations set forth in Articles XVII and XVIII.
E. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection E, Church or similar place of worship, was repealed 9-25-2006 by Ord. No. 2-06. See now § 170-25D.
F. 
(Reserved)[2]
[2]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection F, Cemetery, was repealed 9-25-2006 by Ord. No. 2-06. See now § 170-25E.
G. 
Recreational use, subject to standards in § 170-120.
H. 
No-impact home occupation, as a use accessory to residential use, subject to standards in § 170-119.
[Amended 10-9-2007 by Ord. No. 6-2007]
I. 
Accessory use, subject to standards in § 170-121. In no case shall a helistop, as defined by this chapter, be permitted as an accessory use.
[Amended 11-10-2009 by Ord. No. 06-2009]
J. 
Accessory dwelling unit, subject to the standards in § 170-124.
K. 
Forestry, in accordance with the terms of § 170-130.5 of this chapter.
[Amended 1-3-2011 by Ord. No. 01-2011]
L. 
Small-scale keeping of livestock, as a use accessory to a residential use, in accordance with § 170-128 of this chapter.
[Added 5-23-2005 by Ord. No. 7-05]

§ 170-24 Uses permitted as conditional uses.

[Amended 7-8-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
Uses permitted as conditional uses are as follows:
A. 
Single-family detached dwellings on tracts to be subdivided into more than three lots and not utilizing the open space design option, subject to the standards in §§ 170-47 and 170-157.
B. 
[1]Major home occupation, in accordance with § 170-119.
[Added 10-9-2007 by Ord. No. 6-2007]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection B, regarding community utilities, was repealed 9-25-2006 by Ord. No. 2-06.
C. 
Public or private school, in accordance with the terms of § 170-130.3 of this chapter.
[Added 5-12-2009 by Ord. No. 03-2009]
D. 
Commercial equine activity, in accordance with § 170-130.4 of this chapter.
[Added 6-28-2010 by Ord. No. 01-2010]
E. 
Solar farm, in accordance with the terms of § 170-130.6 of this chapter.
[Added 1-23-2012 by Ord. No. 01-2012]

§ 170-25 Uses permitted by special exception.

[Amended 7-8-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
Uses permitted by special exception are as follows:
A. 
Natural resource use such as excavating, quarrying, open pit mining, and the processing of topsoil, sand, gravel, clay, shale, limestone, or other natural formations under and subject to the regulations and standards in §§ 170-108 and 170-123 of this chapter and all other applicable ordinances, laws, and regulations;
B. 
[1]Veterinary hospital or clinic;
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B, regarding educational use, was repealed 5-12-2009 by Ord. No. 03-2009. This ordinance also redesignated former Subsections C, D, E and F as Subsections B, C, D and E, respectively.
C. 
Rooming house, subject to the standards in § 170-122;
D. 
Place of religious worship, in accordance with § 170-130.1 of this chapter:
[Added 9-25-2006 by Ord. No. 2-06]
E. 
Cemetery, in accordance with § 170-130.2 of this chapter.
[Added 9-25-2006 by Ord. No. 2-06]

§ 170-26 Area and bulk regulations.

[Amended 7-8-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
Area and bulk regulations are as follows:
A. 
Minimum lot area and width.
(1) 
Permitted uses.
Type of Use
Gross Lot Area
Net Lot Area
Lot Width
Lot Width at Street Line
Single-family detached dwelling
2 acres
45,000 sq. ft.
250 feet
50 feet
Cemetery
10 acres
--
500 feet
100 feet
Public use or church
5 acres
45,000 sq. ft.
300 feet
50 feet
Open space design option
As specified in § 170-46
(2) 
Conditional uses.
(a) 
Minimum lot area and width requirements for single-family detached dwellings permitted by conditional use shall be as specified in § 170-26A(1).
(b) 
Area and bulk requirements for any public or private school shall be as specified in § 170-130.3 of this chapter.
[Amended 5-12-2009 by Ord. No. 03-2009]
(3) 
Special exception uses.
[Amended 5-12-2009 by Ord. No. 03-2009]
Gross Lot Area
Net Lot Area
Lot Width
Lot Width at Street Line
Veterinary hospital or clinic
5 acres
45,000 sq. ft.
300 ft.
50 ft.
B. 
Minimum yard dimensions (including accessory buildings).
(1) 
Farm buildings. See §§ 170-117 and 170-118.
(2) 
Open space design option. See § 170-46C.
(3) 
[1]All other permitted, conditional, and special exception uses:
(a) 
Front yard: 50 feet.
(b) 
Side yards: 50 feet each.
(c) 
Rear yard: 50 feet.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B(3), Community utility, was repealed 10-27-2008 by Ord. No. 07-2008. This ordinance also redesignated former Subsection B(4) as Subsection B(3).
C. 
Maximum lot coverage and building height.
(1) 
Impervious coverage. Not more than 15% of the gross area of any lot shall be covered with impervious surfaces.
(2) 
Building height: 35 feet or three stories, whichever is less.
D. 
Uses in the RA-2 District are under and subject to the supplemental regulations contained in this chapter and all other applicable ordinances, laws, and regulations.

§ 170-27 Open space design option.

[Amended 7-8-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003; 9-25-2006 by Ord. No. 2-06; 10-9-2007 by Ord. No. 6-2007; 11-10-2009 by Ord. No. 05-2009]
A. 
Except as noted herein, all standards governing the open space design option contained in § 170-46 of this chapter shall apply to an open design option proposed for development in the RA-2 District.
B. 
To be eligible for use under the open space design option in the RA-2 District, a tract must contain a net tract area of not less than 10 acres.
C. 
The maximum number of lots permitted on the tract shall be a function of the required minimum lot area and restricted open space. The actual number of lots permitted may be less than would otherwise result from these standards where determined necessary to provide adequate lot area to accommodate individual on-lot sewage systems, in accordance with § 170-46C(6).
D. 
Not less than 50% of the net tract area, together with 100% of the area comprised of wetland, slope exceeding 15%, Flood Hazard Conservation District, Riparian Corridor Conservation District, and hydric soils, shall be designated and maintained as restricted open space and shall comply with the standards for restricted open space contained in § 170-46D.