Mount Joy Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIII
OS – Open Space and Conservation District
§ 135-71 District purpose.
The purpose of the Open Space and Conservation District is to preserve and/or conserve streams, creeks, drainageways and other vital waterways, and to protect sensitive natural resources for recreational and conservation purposes. Limited uses are permitted which are consistent with the goal of protecting sensitive natural areas and providing for public recreation and open space.
§ 135-72 Permitted-by-right uses.
Permitted-by-right uses shall be as follows:
A.
Any form of agriculture, subject to the requirements of § 135-212, and further provided that the commercial keeping and handling of poultry, livestock and other animals shall not be maintained in tracts of less than 10 acres in size.
B.
Single-family detached dwellings.
F.
Publicly owned recreational facilities.
G.
Municipal uses.
H.
Sporting equipment sales and rental shops, provided that all displays are limited to the interior of an enclosed building, the floor area does not exceed 7,500 square feet, and that hours of operation do not occur between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The sporting equipment sales and rentals shall be limited to that equipment which may be used on the Conewago Recreation Trail or nearby Lancaster Conservancy and/or Township-owned parklands.
J.
Greenhouses, including retail sales that are limited to a roadside produce stand meeting the requirements of § 135-258.
K.
Nature preserves, including hiking, biking and walking trails and related educational facilities.
L.
Places of worship, which may include an accessory day-care center, in accordance with § 135-251, with a maximum floor area of 20,000 square feet.
M.
Forestry and related uses; provided that the applicant provides copies of the permits and approvals from the DEP, and/or any other applicable state or federal permit authorizing such use to occur.
N.
Food service and concession stands or displays may be provided when clearly secondary and incidental to a municipal use, sporting equipment sales and rental shops, nature preserves or a park and playground located on the property. Such facilities shall not be separately identified on any signage visible from the property lines and freestanding structures shall not exceed 600 square feet of area.
P.
Accessory structures and uses customarily incidental to the above-permitted uses.
§ 135-73 Special exception uses.
The following uses are permitted when special exceptions are granted by written approval of the Zoning Hearing Board. In granting any special exception, the Board may attach certain conditions to its approval which it feels are necessary requirements in order to preserve and protect the character of the district in which the proposed use would locate. The burden shall be upon the applicant to prove that the approval of the application will not be detrimental to the health, safety and general welfare of the community:
§ 135-74 Conditional uses.
(Reserved)
§ 135-75 Area and bulk regulations.
A.
Height. An additional side yard setback of one foot shall be provided for every two feet, or fraction thereof, increase in height above 35 feet. Buildings devoted to farm use shall be exempt from the height regulations.
B.
Minimum lot area. The minimum lot area shall be two acres, except:
(1)
Where a larger lot area is specified by another section of this chapter;
(2)
If a principal building will be located on non-man-made slopes of over 20%, then a three-acre minimum lot area is required; and
(3)
Where a smaller lot area may be permitted under the single-family cluster option provisions of this chapter.
C.
Minimum lot width. The minimum lot width shall be 150 feet, at the building setback line.
D.
Minimum lot depth. The minimum lot depth shall be 150 feet.
E.
Front yard minimum depth.
(1)
The minimum front yard building setback line for all single-family detached buildings shall be 35 feet from the ultimate right-of-way as designated in § 135-301. All other buildings shall contain a minimum front yard building setback line of 50 feet from the ultimate street right-of-way.
(2)
In developed areas, the minimum building setback line requirements may be adjusted by right so that the proposed building may be in proper relation to adjacent buildings. Under no circumstances shall a building be permitted to encroach any closer to the ultimate right-of-way than an adjacent building.
F.
Side yard. There shall be two side yards, neither of which shall be less than 15 feet.
G.
Rear yards. Rear yards shall be a minimum of 50 feet in depth.
H.
Maximum lot coverage.
(1)
Maximum building coverage. The maximum building coverage shall not exceed 20%, unless a more restrictive standard is established by another section of this chapter.
(2)
Maximum impervious coverage. The maximum impervious coverage shall not exceed 25%, unless a more restrictive standard is established by another section of this chapter.
(3)
If a nonresidential use occupies more than one lot, the maximum building and impervious coverage may apply for the total of contiguous lots, instead of each individual lot.
§ 135-76 Height and yard regulations for accessory buildings.
The following regulations shall apply to unattached buildings for accessory use:
A.
Maximum height. The maximum height shall be 20 feet, except that this restriction shall not be applicable to farm buildings and silos.
B.
Front yard minimum depth. The minimum building setback lines for all accessory buildings shall be 50 feet from the ultimate street right-of-way as designated by § 135-301.
C.
Side yard. The minimum distance to any interior side lot line shall be six feet.
D.
Rear yard. The minimum distance to any rear lot line shall be six feet.