Middletown Township Bucks
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
RA-3 Residence Agricultural District
§ 500-601 Purpose and intent.
The RA-3 Residence Agricultural District is composed of low-density residential areas of the Township and open areas where similar residential development is likely to occur. The purposes of this district are to permit residential development at a moderate density; to provide standards which will encourage the installation of public facilities and the preservation of permanent public open space; to exclude activities of a commercial or industrial nature and any activities not compatible with residential development; and to otherwise create conditions conducive to carrying out the purposes of this chapter as set forth in § 500-101.
§ 500-602 Use regulations.
[Amended 10-2-2001 by Ord. No. 01-13; 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 08-05]
A building may be erected or used and a lot may be used or occupied for any one of the following principal uses and any of the following accessory uses and no other. Unless specifically identified as an accessory use, the following are permitted principal uses:
A.
Single-family detached dwelling.
B.
Building for public worship.
C.
Cemetery.
D.
Agricultural use, including tilling of the soil, nursery and the keeping or raising of livestock, poultry, birds, horses and bees as an accessory use, provided that:
(1)
The minimum lot area shall be 10 acres.
(2)
Any building used for the keeping or raising of livestock, poultry, birds, horses or bees shall be situated not less than 100 feet from any street line or property line. For the keeping of bees, adequate shade and water shall be provided in the immediate vicinity of the hives.
(3)
The keeping or raising of horses shall be limited to one horse per two acres.
(4)
The keeping or raising of all other livestock and poultry shall be limited to five per acre.
E.
Public building or public use.
F.
Public or private educational institution when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board as a special exception, provided that the requirements of § 500-402E of this chapter are met.
G.
Hospital, convalescent home or nursing home when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board as a special exception, provided that:
(1)
A lot area of not less than five acres shall be provided for each such use.
(2)
The maximum impervious surface ratio shall be 50%.
(3)
Such use shall have direct access to either an arterial or a collector highway as designated in this chapter.
(4)
Such use shall be served by adequate public water supply and public sewage disposal facilities.
H.
Telecommunications facility, telephone central office or electric substation when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board as a special exception, provided that:
(1)
Such use shall not include the transaction of business with the public; storage of materials, rotating equipment or trucks, repair facilities or housing of repair crews.
J.
Accessory use on the same lot with and customarily incidental to any permitted use in this district, subject to the applicable provisions of this article and Article XXIV.
L.
Signs as an accessory use when erected and maintained in accordance with the provisions of Article XXVIII.
M.
No-impact home-based business as an accessory use.
§ 500-603 Area and dimensional requirements.
Unless a greater area or dimensional regulation is stated in § 500-602, Use regulations, for a specific use, all uses in the RA-3 District shall meet the following requirements:
A.
Minimum lot area: 22,500 square feet.
B.
Minimum lot width: 125 feet.
C.
Maximum density: 1.4 dwelling units per acre.
D.
Maximum building coverage: 15%.
E.
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
F.
Minimum front yard: 50 feet.
G.
Minimum side yard: 15 feet; 40 feet aggregate.
H.
Minimum rear yard: 50 feet.
I.
Maximum impervious surface ratio: 30%.
[Added 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 08-05]