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Lower Saucon Township
City Zoning Code

ARTICLE IV

Rural Agricultural District RA

§ 180-18 Purpose.

The Rural Agricultural District provides a rural low-density living environment. The area is extensive and without development-related public facilities, such as water and sewer. The district is established to encourage agricultural and related activities, as well as to conserve unique natural features, such as flood prone and sloping areas, forests, and wildlife habitats and to help protect the watershed areas for the Springtown Water System and the Hellertown Water System water supplies. This district is established also to allow development while encouraging protection of valuable natural resources.

§ 180-19 Permitted uses.

The following uses and their accessory uses are permitted by right by the Zoning Officer, provided that the use type, dimensional and all other applicable requirements of this chapter are satisfied:
A. 
All the following uses require site plan approval in accordance with § 180-102.
(1) 
Agricultural uses:
(a) 
General agricultural uses, including animal husbandry and greenhouses (see § 180-103.1), except as listed below in Subsection B(1).
(b) 
Animal-related uses (kennel, boarding, riding stable and grooming; see § 180-103).
(2) 
Commercial uses:
(a) 
Craft shop.
(b) 
Day camp.
(c) 
Nursery
(3) 
Cultural uses:
(a) 
Cemetery (see § 180-107).
(4) 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection A(4), regarding forestry, was repealed 7-17-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-04.
(5) 
Public service, fire and emergency station.
(6) 
Recreational uses:
(a) 
Golf courses (see § 180-113).
(b) 
Riding academy (see § 180-103).
(c) 
Recreation and park, public.
B. 
The following uses do not require site plan approval unless required by an overlay zone:
(1) 
General agricultural uses:
(a) 
Growing crops (except forestry), excluding animal husbandry and greenhouses.
(2) 
Residential uses:
(a) 
Single-family detached dwelling.
(b) 
Single-family cluster developments (see § 180-116).
[Added 8-17-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-06]
(c) 
Residential group homes (see § 180-118).
[Added 11-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-05]
(3) 
Service uses.
[Added 11-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-06]
(a) 
Nontower commercial communication facilities (see § 180-127.1).
(4) 
Forestry (see § 180-127.2).
[Added 7-17-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-04]

§ 180-20 Conditional uses.

[Amended 7-16-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-09]
The following uses and their accessory uses may be permitted when authorized as a conditional use by the Township Council, subject to the provisions of this chapter. All the following uses require site plan approval in accordance with § 180-102.
A. 
Lodging:
(1) 
Bed-and-breakfast home.
B. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B, Residential uses, was repealed 8-17-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-06.
C. 
Recreational uses:
(1) 
Club, lodge, or social building, private (see § 180-111).
(2) 
Commercial (outdoor).
(3) 
Club with shooting range.
D. 
Service uses:
(1) 
Public utility facility (see § 180-123).
(2) 
Veterinary or animal hospital (see § 180-103).
(3) 
Tower-based commercial communication facilities (see § 180-127.1).[2]
[Amended 11-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-06]
[2]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection D(4), regarding antennae as service uses, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 11-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-06.

§ 180-21 Accessory uses.

Accessory uses are permitted by right and/or conditional use, if accessory to a conditional use. The following accessory uses are permitted in this district, subject to all yard regulations and the applicable provisions of other zoning regulations:
A. 
Agriculture and nursery buildings.
B. 
Satellite dishes (see § 180-129).
[Amended 11-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-06]
C. 
Fences and walls (see § 180-97).
D. 
Home professional office/occupation; site plan required in some cases (see § 180-136).
E. 
Noncommercial pools and tennis courts (see §§ 180-130 and 180-135).
F. 
Parking spaces (see § 180-98).
G. 
Recreational vehicle or travel trailer storage (see § 180-133).
H. 
Residential accessory buildings (see § 180-131).
I. 
Signs (See Article XVIA).
[Amended 3-6-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-01]
J. 
Solar energy collection equipment (see § 180-129).
K. 
Temporary stands or offices (see § 180-132).
L. 
Windmills and other power-generating equipment (see § 180-129).
M. 
Underground storage tanks (see § 180-96).

§ 180-22 Lot requirements.

Except as may be allowed for the reduced lot size conditional use, the following dimensional requirements apply to each principal use permitted in the RA District by right and by conditional use, subject to applicable provisions of this chapter:
A. 
Area: minimum two acres.
B. 
Width: minimum 200 feet.
C. 
Maximum impervious surface: See charts provided in § 180-127.3 for single-family detached dwelling uses; 20% maximum for all other uses.
[Amended 4-6-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-02]
D. 
Height: maximum 35 feet.

§ 180-23 Yard requirements.

Except as may be allowed for the reduced lot size conditional use, the following yard requirements apply to each principal use permitted in this district by right and by conditional use, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:
A. 
Front yard: minimum 50 feet.
B. 
Side yard: minimum 40 feet.
C. 
Rear yard: minimum 50 feet.