For the purpose of this chapter, zoning districts are hereby established as follows:

For the purposes of this chapter, the zoning districts named above shall be of the number, size, shape and location shown on the Official Zoning Map adopted and included in its entirety as a part of this chapter.

Regardless of the existence of copies of the Official Zoning Map which may from time to time be made or published, the Official Zoning Map which shall be maintained in the Township Building shall be the final authority regarding the current zoning status of land, buildings and other structures.

Unless otherwise provided by law or specifically in this chapter, no land or building or structure shall be used or occupied except for a use permitted in the zoning district within which the land or building or structure is located. See also § 300-26.

Permitted uses shall adhere to lot area, lot width, building coverage, height and yard requirements and other applicable provisions of this chapter.

Any legally established existing use of a building or structure, lot or land or part thereof which constitutes a conforming use under the provisions of this chapter may be continued.

Any lawful use which occupies any building or structure, lot or land at the effective date of this chapter or any amendment thereto, but does not comply with the use regulations of the district in which it is situated after the effective date of this chapter or any amendment thereto, may be continued as a nonconforming use in accordance with the provisions of Article V of this chapter.

The regulations set by this chapter shall apply uniformly to each class or kind of building, structure or land, except as provided for in this chapter.

No building, structure or land shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or structurally altered internally or externally and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be used or occupied unless it is in conformity with the regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located.

No part of a yard or other open space or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this chapter shall be included as part of a yard, open space or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.

No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this chapter shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth herein. Yards or lots created after the effective date of this chapter shall meet at least the minimum requirements established by this chapter.

All territory which may hereafter be annexed to the Township shall be considered to be zoned in the same manner as the contiguous territory inside the previous Township limits until otherwise classified.

A map entitled "Zoning Map for the Township of Moore" accompanies this chapter and is declared a part of this chapter.[1]

The Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors attested by the Township Secretary and shall bear the adoption date of this chapter and the seal of the Township under the following words: "This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Map."

Changes of any nature to the Official Zoning Map shall be made in conformity with the amendment procedures set forth in this chapter. All changes shall be noted by date with a brief description of the nature of the change.

Regardless of the existence of purported copies of the Official Zoning Map which may from time to time be made or published, the Official Zoning Map shall be located in the Township Office and shall be the final authority on boundaries and districts. The Zoning Officer shall have a certified copy of the map for official use.

If the Official Zoning Map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret because of changes and additions, the Board of Supervisors may, by resolution, adopt a new Official Zoning Map which shall supersede the prior Official Zoning Map. The new Official Zoning Map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior Official Zoning Map, but no such correction shall include an amendment thereof. The new Official Zoning Map may be identified by the signatures of the Board of Supervisors and attested to by the Township Secretary, bearing the following words: "This is to certify that this Official Zoning Map supersedes and replaces the Official Zoning Map adopted __________ (date) as part of the Moore Township Zoning Ordinance of 2010, Moore Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania."

Unless the prior Official Zoning Map has been lost or has been totally destroyed, the prior map or any part or parts thereof remaining shall be preserved together with all available records pertaining to its adoption or amendment.

Boundaries drawn approximately following the center lines of streams, drainageways, streets, alleys, railroads or other right-of-way shall be construed to follow such center lines.

Boundaries approximately following lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines.

Boundaries drawn approximately following the center lines of streams shall be construed to follow such center lines and, in the event of change in the center line, shall be construed as moving with the actual center line.

Distances not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map.

Where physical features existing on the ground vary with those shown on the Official Zoning Map or in other circumstances not covered by Subsections A through D above, the Zoning Hearing Board shall interpret the district boundaries.

Purpose. The purpose of this district is to protect the scenic, recreational and environmental resources of Blue Mountain, to protect and preserve natural resources in the Township and to provide for the orderly development of the Township. The predominant land uses in the district are forest land, state game land and other open space uses. The regulations for this district are designed to protect these land uses.

Uses permitted by right. The following principal uses and their accessory uses are permitted by right in the BMC District by the Zoning Officer, provided that the use type, dimensional and all other applicable requirements of this chapter are satisfied:

Special exception uses. The following principal uses and their accessory uses may be permitted in the BMC District by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with standards contained in §§ 300-22 and 300-23 of this chapter:

Conditional uses. The following principal uses and their accessory uses may be permitted in the BMC District when authorized by the Board of Supervisors in accordance with standards in §§ 300-22 and 300-24 of this chapter:

Accessory uses.

Lot area, width, building coverage and height regulations. The following dimensional requirements apply to each use in the BMC District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:

Minimum yard requirements. The following minimum yard requirements apply to each use in the BMC District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:

Minimum floor area and dwelling unit widths. The following dimensional requirements apply to each residential use in the BMC District:

Purpose. The purpose of this district is to protect and preserve natural resources in the Township, to preserve the rural character of the Township and to provide for the orderly development of the Township. The district contains environmentally sensitive areas and is predominantly undeveloped. The regulations for this district are designed to protect these sensitive areas, to stabilize the essential characteristics of the district and to control development which requires highways and public services in excess of those required by uses in the district.

Uses permitted by right. The following principal uses and their accessory uses are permitted by right in the LC District by the Zoning Officer, provided that the use type, dimensional and all other applicable requirements of this chapter are satisfied:

Special exception uses. The following principal uses and their accessory uses may be permitted in the LC District by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with standards contained in §§ 300-22 and 300-23 of this chapter:

Conditional uses. The following principal uses and their accessory uses may be permitted in the LC District when authorized by the Board of Supervisors in accordance with standards in §§ 300-22 and 300-24 of this chapter:

Accessory uses.

Lot area, width, building coverage and height regulations. The following dimensional requirements apply to each use in the LC District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:

Minimum yard requirements. The following minimum yard requirements apply to each use in the LC District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:

Minimum floor area and dwelling unit widths. The following dimensional requirements apply to each residential use in the LC District:

Purpose. The purpose of this district is to preserve contiguous areas of agricultural land to promote agricultural activities, to provide for limited amounts of residential development in locations that will preserve agricultural lands and/or natural features, and to avoid conflicts with agricultural uses.

Uses permitted by right. The following principal uses and their accessory uses are permitted by right in the RA District by the Zoning Officer, provided that the use type, dimensional and all other applicable requirements of this chapter are satisfied:

Special exception uses. The following principal uses and their accessory uses may be permitted in the RA District by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with standards contained in §§ 300-22 and 300-23 of this chapter:

Conditional uses. The following principal uses and their accessory uses may be permitted in the RA District when authorized by the Board of Supervisors in accordance with standards in §§ 300-22 and 300-24 of this chapter:

Accessory uses.

Lot area, width, building coverage and height regulations. The following dimensional requirements apply to each use in the RA District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:

Minimum yard requirements. The following minimum yard requirements apply to each use in the RA District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:

Minimum floor area and dwelling unit widths. The following dimensional requirements apply to each residential use in the RA District:

Purpose. The purpose of this district is to provide for low-density residential neighborhoods that are primarily composed of single-family detached dwellings, to protect these areas from incompatible uses, and to protect and preserve natural resources in the Township. The predominant land uses in the district are agricultural, other open space uses and rural residential. The regulations for this district are designed to protect and stabilize the essential characteristics of these areas, to minimize conflicting land uses and to control development which requires highways and public services in excess of those required by rural uses.

Uses permitted by right. The following principal uses and their accessory uses are permitted by right in the RR District by the Zoning Officer, provided that the use type, dimensional and all other applicable requirements of this chapter are satisfied:

Special exception uses. The following principal uses and their accessory uses may be permitted in the RR District by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with standards contained in §§ 300-22 and 300-23 of this chapter:

Conditional uses. The following principal uses and their accessory uses may be permitted in the RR District when authorized by the Board of Supervisors in accordance with standards in §§ 300-22 and 300-24 of this chapter:

Accessory uses.

Lot area, width, building coverage and height regulations. The following dimensional requirements apply to each use in the RR District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:

Minimum yard requirements. The following minimum yard requirements apply to each use in the RR District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:

Minimum floor area and dwelling unit widths. The following dimensional requirements apply to each residential use in the RR District:

Purpose. The purpose of the Village Center District is to provide for the central location of commercial uses and community services, to provide for a variety of housing types at moderate to high densities and to provide for the orderly development of the Township. A variety of commercial, community and residential uses predominate in the district. The regulations for this district are designed to promote these uses.

Two or more principle structures may be constructed or placed on a lot of record not intended to be subdivided into customary streets and lots provided the following conditions are met:

Uses permitted by right. The following principal uses and their accessory uses are permitted by right in the VC District by the Zoning Officer, provided that the use type, dimensional and all other applicable requirements of this chapter are satisfied:

Special exception uses. The following principal uses and their accessory uses may be permitted in the VC District by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with standards contained in §§ 300-22 and 300-23 of this chapter:

Conditional uses. The following principal uses and their accessory uses may be permitted in the VC District when authorized by the Board of Supervisors in accordance with standards in §§ 300-22 and 300-24 of this chapter:

Accessory uses.

Lot area, width, building coverage and height regulations. The following dimensional requirements apply to each use in the VC District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:

Minimum yard requirements. The following minimum yard requirements apply to each use in the VC District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:

Minimum floor area and dwelling unit widths. The following dimensional requirements apply to each residential use in the VC District:

Purpose. The purpose of this district is to provide areas which are suitable for light industrial and heavy commercial uses, so as to prevent conflicts between these uses and other land uses.

Uses permitted by right. The following principal uses and their accessory uses are permitted by right in the I District by the Zoning Officer, provided that the use type, dimensional and all other applicable requirements of this chapter are satisfied:

Special exception uses. The following principal uses and their accessory uses may be permitted in the I District by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with standards contained in §§ 300-22 and 300-23 of this chapter:

Conditional uses. The following principal uses and their accessory uses may be permitted in the I District when authorized by the Board of Supervisors in accordance with standards in §§ 300-22 and 300-24 of this chapter:

Accessory uses.

Lot area, width, building coverage and height regulations. The following dimensional requirements apply to each use in the I District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:

Yard requirements. The following minimum yard requirements apply to each use in the I District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:

Buffer. Structures shall be prohibited within 100 feet of the trail corridor owned by the National Park Service. Any structure permitted by variance within the buffer shall be screened in accordance with § 300-29L of this chapter.

Existing vegetation. Vegetation in the buffer shall not be disturbed except for maintenance purposes, the correction of hazardous conditions or the removal of invasive species, or as otherwise approved by the Township as part of a landscape or open space plan. Trees may be harvested to the extent that the basal area of trees in the buffer area shall not be reduced below 50% of the basal area present before cutting or below 65 square feet per acre, whichever is higher. Basal area is the area in square feet per acre occupied by tree stems at 4.5 feet above the ground, normally measured by a calibrated prism or angle gauge.

Conditional use. With the exception of forestry enterprises, any nonresidential use which is not otherwise classified as a conditional use, special exception or accessory use, and which is located within 1,000 feet of the center line of the trail, shall be considered a conditional use. All such uses shall be considered in terms of effects on the trail and the Board of Supervisors shall attach such conditions deemed reasonable and necessary to afford protection to the trail.