Middletown Township Bucks
City Zoning Code

At least 50% of the products sold shall be produced on the premises where offered for sale.

Any such stand shall be situated not less than 30 feet from any street line.

Such roadside stand shall be a structure with no more than three enclosed sides.

No retail sales, except from a roadside stand, shall be permitted from or in connection with a greenhouse.

Academic schools. To include schools of the following character: adult schools, correspondence schools, colleges, educational tutoring, general education, schools for handicapped or retarded persons, public schools and others of like kind.

Business and trade schools. To include schools of the following character: computer programming, electronics, finance, key punch machine operator, management development, radio and others of like kind.

Child-care schools. To include schools of the following character: day camps, day-care centers, kindergarten, nursery schools, pre-kindergartens, resident camps and others of like kind.

Dance and music schools. To include schools of the following character: acrobatic dance, ballet dance, ballroom dance, freestyle dance, modern dance, music schools, tap dance, twirling schools, and others of like kind.

Hobby schools. To include schools of the following character: cooking, sewing, stained glass making, art and printing schools, and others of like kind.

Martial arts. To include schools of the following character: jujitsu, judo, karate, and others of like kind.

Occupational licensing schools. To include schools of the following character: barber schools, beauty culture schools, dental assistant schools, nursing schools, real estate schools, and others of like kind.

Professional and professional licensing schools. To include schools of the following character: bartender schools, business schools, chiropractic schools, schools of fashion, schools of modeling, paralegal schools, photography schools, secretarial schools, travel agent schools, and others of like kind.

Religious schools. To include schools of the following character: Sunday schools, Hebrew schools, Bible schools, and others of like kind.

Sports training schools. To include schools of the following character: basketball, boxing, fencing, golf, gymnastics, tennis, and others of like kind.

Tutoring schools. To include schools of the following character: College Board preparation, math, reading, general tutoring, and others of like kind.

Any other schools not in the above subsections which are of like kind and nature.

Educational institutions dealing with animals such as dog obedience schools, horseback riding schools, animal grooming schools.

Driver educational schools.

Schools for the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles, engines and aircraft.

Flying schools.

Outdoor athletic institutions.

Schools for the maintenance and repair of appliances, including, but not limited to, heating and refrigeration, electric repairs, television repair, washer, dryer, dishwasher, garbage disposal, oven and like repairs.

Welder training schools.

Such other educational institutions having excessive light, noise, dust, traffic and other safety hazards.

Firearms training school.

Removal of diseased or dead trees.

Removal of trees which are in such a condition or physical position as to constitute a danger to the structures or occupants of properties or a public right-of-way.

Removal of up to five trees per acre of woodlands per year, not to exceed a total of 10 trees per lot or any combination of adjoining lots in common ownership, which are 12 inches or more in diameter measured at breast height (dbh) and not covered by the exemptions in the foregoing two subsections. Removal of woodlands shall not exceed the standards set forth in §§ 500-2601D and 500-2602B. In cases of conflict between the standards set forth in this section and §§ 500-2601D and 500-2602B, the stricter of the standards shall apply.

When a building permit is issued for a building, structure or use, the permittee may cut down any trees which exist in the space to be occupied by such building, structure or use, or within 30 feet of such building, structure or use, and all space within 10 feet of all sides of any utility line, stormwater conveyance or detention structure, driveway, parking area, water system or sewage disposal system, or permitted accessory uses. Removal of woodlands shall not exceed the standards set forth in §§ 500-2601D and 500-2602B. In cases of conflict between the standards set forth in this section and §§ 500-2601D and 500-2602B, the stricter of the standards shall apply.

Notification of commencement or completion. For all forestry and timber harvesting operations that are expected to exceed one acre, the landowner shall notify the Township Zoning Officer at least 10 business days before the operation commences and within five business days before the operation is complete. No timber harvesting shall occur until the notice has been provided. Notification shall be in writing and shall specify the land on which harvesting will occur, the expected size of the harvest area and, as applicable, the anticipated starting or completion date of the operation.

Logging plan. Every landowner on whose land timber harvesting is to occur shall have a written logging plan prepared by a professional forester or forest technician in the form specified by this chapter. No timber harvesting shall occur until the plan has been prepared. The provisions of the plan shall be followed throughout the operation. The plan shall be available at the harvest site at all times during the operation and shall be provided to the Township Zoning Officer upon request.

Responsibility for compliance. The landowner and the operator shall be jointly and severally responsible for complying with the terms of the logging plan.

Minimum requirements. As a minimum, the logging plan shall include the following:

Map. Each forestry/logging plan shall include a site map containing the following information:

Compliance with state law. The forestry/logging plan shall address and comply with the requirements of all applicable state laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the following:

Compliance with federal law/regulations. The forestry/logging plan shall address and comply with the requirements of all applicable federal laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the best management practices (BMPs) as set forth at 33 CFR 323.4[a][6][i-xv].

The forestry/logging plan shall address and comply with the standards set forth in Article XXVI, Natural Resource Protection Standards; Open Space and Buffers, of this chapter. In cases of conflict between this section and Article XXVI, the stricter of the standards shall apply. The forestry/logging plan shall further address and comply with the standards set forth in Chapter 440, Subdivision and Land Development, § 440-406, Stormwater Management. In cases of conflict between this section and § 440-406, the stricter of the standards shall apply.

Felling or skidding on or across any public thoroughfare is prohibited without the express written consent of the Township or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, whichever is responsible for maintenance of the thoroughfare;

No tops or slash shall be left within 25 feet of any public thoroughfare or private roadway providing access to adjoining residential property;

All tops and slash between 25 and 50 feet from a public roadway or private roadway providing access to adjoining residential property or within 50 feet of adjoining residential property shall be chopped to a maximum height of four feet above the surface of the ground;

No tops or slash shall be left on or across the boundary of any property adjoining the operation without the consent of the owner thereof;

Litter resulting from a timber harvesting operation shall be removed from the site before it is vacated by the operator;

Any soil, stones and/or debris carried onto public roadways must be removed immediately;

No forestry/logging use shall be permitted within areas with slopes of 26% or greater;

When the harvest is completed, both dirt roads used by the trucks and skid roads used to drag the logs from the woods to the loading area must be graded approximately to original contours, and be seeded and mulched as necessary to establish stable ground cover;

A no-logging buffer zone with a width of 25 feet shall be maintained along any street abutting or running through a property on which the forestry/logging operation is to be conducted. The buffer shall be measured from the ultimate right-of-way of a public street and from the easement boundary of a private street. No trees shall be cut, removed, skidded or transported in a no-logging buffer zone except as necessary for access to a site from the street;

A no-logging buffer zone with a width of 50 feet shall be maintained along all properties abutting a property on which the logging operation is to be conducted. The buffer shall be measured from the property line. No trees shall be cut, removed, skidded or transported in a no-logging buffer zone except as necessary for access to a site from the street; and

A no-logging riparian buffer zone with a width of 75 feet shall be maintained along both sides of any watercourse or canal that abuts or runs through a property on which the forestry, logging or timber harvest operation is to be conducted. The buffer shall be measured from the high-water mark of the watercourse or canal. No trees shall be cut, removed, skidded or transported in a no-logging riparian buffer zone.

Inspections. Any official or employee of the Township may go upon the site of any timber harvesting operation before, during or after active logging to: review the logging plan or any other required documents for compliance with this chapter and inspect the operation for compliance with the logging plan and other on-site requirements of this chapter.

Violation notices; suspensions. Upon finding that a forestry or timber harvesting operation is in violation of any provisions of this chapter, the Township shall issue the operator and the landowner a written notice of violation describing each violation and specifying a date by which corrective action must be taken. The Township may order the immediate suspension of any operation upon finding that: 1) corrective action has not been taken by the date specified in a notice of violation; 2) the operation is proceeding without a logging plan; or 3) the operation is causing an environmental risk. Suspension orders shall be in writing, shall be issued to the operator and the landowner, and shall remain in effect until, as determined by the Township, the operation is brought into compliance with this chapter or other applicable statutes or regulations. The landowner or the operator may appeal an order or decision of an official or employee of the Township in accordance with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

Penalties. Any landowner or operator who violates any provision of this chapter or who fails to comply with a notice of violation or suspension order issued under Subsection M(6)(b) shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, plus costs and attorney's fees, in accordance with Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Each day of continued violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense.