Front Setbacks from Major Thoroughfares. For the purpose of protecting uses from adverse influences of traffic and for the purpose of protecting major thoroughfares for their traffic functions, buildings (including residential and nonresidential buildings) along these thoroughfares must be set back at least 50 feet from the right-of-way line of the thoroughfare. Major thoroughfares are or will be any arterial streets and collector streets specified in the Township Comprehensive Plan and may be designated by the Township Board of Supervisors in the future.

Sight Distance. Proper sight lines must be maintained at all street intersections. Clear sight triangles shall be provided at all public or private street intersections and driveway entrances. The clear sight triangles shall be free of any obstructions. Within such triangles, no vision-obstructing object other than utility poles, streetlights, street signs or traffic signs shall be permitted which obscures vision above the height of 30 inches and below 10 feet measured from the center line grade of intersecting streets. Such triangles shall be established to facilitate the driver, when positioned 10 feet behind the street cartway, to have a clear line-of-sight for a distance as determined by the procedure described in the Manheim Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22].

Setback on Corner Lots. In the case of corner lots, two front yards shall be provided (the second of which will exist in lieu of one side yard). The rear yard shall fall opposite the front yard of the access street.

Accessory or Appurtenant Structures. The building setback regulations do not apply to:

Structures such as chimneys, standpipes, silos, flagpoles, television antennas or communications towers.

Structures on buildings such as clock towers, cupolas, water tanks and other mechanical appurtenances, if such structures, at any level, do not cover more than 25% of the roof on which they are located.

Parapet walls or cornices used solely for ornamental purposes if not in excess of five feet.

Continuance. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any use, building, or structure existing at the time of enactment of this chapter may be continued although it is not in conformity with the regulations specified by this chapter.

Expansion or Alteration. For the purposes of this section, expansion or alteration shall mean any increase or change in the totality of an undertaking or enterprise as measured by its number of employees, customers, or uses; car and truck traffic; parking and loading requirements; hours of operation (including number of work shifts); square footage utilized; external impact (including, for example, lighting, noise, and odors); days and/or hours during which a particular use is conducted; and other observable manifestations of the use of the property.

Replacement. Any nonconforming use may be replaced or substituted by another nonconforming use by special exception if the Zoning Hearing Board determines that the proposed use is at least as equally compatible with the surrounding area as the original nonconforming use. In addition, the proposed nonconforming use shall not increase any dimensional nonconformity. The Zoning Hearing Board may attach reasonable conditions to the special exception to keep the use compatible within its surroundings.

Restoration.

Abandonment. A nonconforming use shall be adjudged as abandoned when there occurs a cessation of any such use or activity by an apparent act or failure to act on the part of the tenant or owner to reinstate such use within a period of one year from the date of cessation or discontinuance. Vacation of land or structures or the nonoperative status of the use normally carried on shall be evidence of discontinuance. Such use shall not thereafter be reinstated and the structure shall not be reoccupied except in conformance with this chapter.

Reversion. No nonconformity shall, if once changed to conform to the regulations of this chapter, be changed back again to a nonconformity.

Zone Changes. Whenever the boundaries of a zone shall be changed so as to change an area from one zone to another zone of a different classification, the foregoing provisions shall also apply to any nonconforming uses or dimensional nonconformities existing therein or created thereby.

Extension of a Nonconforming Use of Land. Any lawful nonconforming use of land exclusive of buildings and structures and the use contained therein, may be extended upon the lot upon which it exists at the time of the effective date of this chapter, but such extension shall conform to area and lot regulations and to the design standards of this chapter. The extension of a nonconforming use on a lot shall be limited to the lot which was in existence on the effective date of this chapter or any amendment thereto creating the nonconformity.

Expansion of Nonconforming Single-Family Detached Dwellings. Any single-family detached dwelling that was legally in existence as of the effective date of this chapter may be expanded without obtaining a special exception or variance, provided that such expansion does not result in a further encroachment into the yard setback requirement or exceed the lot coverage requirement within the zone.