North Lebanon Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 3
AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS A
§ 27-301 Intent.
[Ord. 64-84, 6/4/1984, § 6.01]
The regulations of the Agricultural Districts are designed to protect and preserve the existing agricultural lands of the Township and those areas where environmental conditions are most conducive to agricultural operations which will produce high crop yields. Principal protection and preservation emphasis is concentrated on farm land and conversion to non-farm usage is discouraged. Where designated as non-prime farm land, limited residential, non-residential, and farm-related commercial uses are permitted to facilitate those individuals who may desire to locate in an agricultural setting.
§ 27-302 Permitted Uses.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984, § 6.02; as amended by Ord. 2-1994, 8/1/1994, § II; by Ord. 1-1997, 1/20/1997, §§ II and III; by Ord. 1-2003, 6/16/2003, § I; by Ord. 5-2005, 12/19/2005, § XIV; and by Ord. 2-2014, 5/19/2014, §§ IX, X]
1.
The following uses are permitted, subject to the requirements listed herein and in §§ 27-303 and 27-304 of this chapter:
A.
Agriculture, crop and truck farming, pasturing, truck gardening, horticulture, nurseries, aviaries, hatcheries, apiaries (subject to the regulations set forth in Chapter 27, Part 12, Supplementary District Regulations, § 27-1232), and similar agricultural uses. Greenhouses are also permitted, provided that they do not involve retail sales of items stocked for resale.
[Amended by Ord. No. 4-2022, 3/21/2022]
B.
(Reserved)
C.
(Reserved)
D.
Pet kennels, provided that they are located a minimum of 100 feet from any right-of-way or lot line.
E.
Public conservation areas for the preservation of open space, water, soil, forest and wildlife resources.
F.
Public park and recreation areas, forest preserves, game refuges and similar non-intensive uses.
G.
Golf courses and county clubs.
H.
Churches, associated parish houses, and cemeteries.
I.
Single family dwellings, in accordance with the requirements of §§ 27-303 and 27-304 of this chapter, including maximum lot area requirements.
J.
Customary accessory uses and structures incidental to any of the above permitted uses, including the following:
(1)
Roadside stands for the sale of "home-grown" or "home-made" products when located not less than 20 feet from the road cart-way and not within the road right-of-way.
(2)
Home occupations and accessory uses, as regulated in Part 12 of this chapter.
K.
Upon approval by the Zoning Hearing Board, the following Special Exception uses are permitted provided the use complies with the conditions listed herein and Part 17 of this chapter. Additionally, the applicable requirements of §§ 27-303 and 27-304 of this chapter, including maximum lot area, shall also apply.
(1)
Semi-public or private recreational areas, game and wildlife hunting and gunning clubs, camps, and structures necessary for the operation of these uses.
(2)
Riding academies, commercial stables and animal hospitals.
(3)
Saw mills and other establishments associated with forestry.
(4)
Agriculturally oriented commercial establishments (e.g. farm implement dealers, feed mills, seed stores, butchering shops, etc).
L.
Upon application to the Board of Supervisors of North Lebanon Township, the owner or owners of land consisting of five or more acres may construct a separate accessory building to a primary residence located on the tract of land; provided, that the following conditions are met:
(1)
The size and type of the building shall be approved by the Board of Supervisors.
(2)
The building may be used only for the storage of equipment and other property.
(3)
The building shall meet all applicable requirements of the zoning ordinance concerning setback lines and height of building.
(4)
The Board of Supervisors may attach such other conditions as they deem reasonable.
(5)
The owner or owners shall enter into an agreement with the Township to assure the performance of the conditions and the agreement shall be binding upon the owners and successors in title to the property.
M.
Upon application to the Board of Supervisors of North Lebanon Township and upon the receipt of a reclamation permit from the Board of Supervisors of North Lebanon Township, the owner or owners of the property situated in the Agricultural District (A) may remove any ground or other materials that have been deposited, subject to all of the terms and conditions as may be imposed on the permit by the Board of Supervisors of North Lebanon Township including, but not limited to, bonding, requiring other state or federal permits, submitting detailed plans, providing dirt and dust control, meeting traffic and road requirements and protection, providing insurance, and complying with the time limits for completing the work.
N.
Group care facilities provided that the following conditions are met:
(1)
Plans for the facility are approved by the appropriate state and local agencies (e.g., Department of Labor and Industry, Department of Welfare, etc.) prior to operation.
(2)
The facility shall be properly licensed, if required.
(3)
There shall be a minimum of 175 square feet of habitable floor area for each person residing in the facility.
(4)
All residents of the facility must be certified by the referring agency to be capable of residing in this group family environment, and no resident shall receive skilled or intermediate type nursing care, or psychiatric rehabilitation routinely required in an institutional setting.
(5)
The facility shall be serviced by the public water and public sewer system.
(6)
The facility shall comply with all applicable standards of this chapter, the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of North Lebanon Township [Chapter 22].
(7)
Traffic generated by the facility shall not exceed normal residential levels and all points of ingress and egress shall be at safe and permissible locations.
(8)
All parking shall be off-street and the facility shall have two off-street parking spaces for the facility and one additional off-street parking space for each residential vehicle and each employee vehicle and such other additional off-street parking spaces as may be needed to handle the off-street parking needs of the facility's use.
(9)
The operator of the facility shall provide to North Lebanon Township a floor plan of the facility describing the uses of the rooms within.
O.
Family day-care homes, provided that the following conditions are met:
(1)
Day care shall be provided by the resident of the home and a maximum of one nonresident assistant.
(2)
Applicants shall obtain and maintain a registration certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare for the family day-care home; a copy of said certificate shall be attached to the building permit.
(3)
Two off-street parking spaces shall be provided in addition to that required for the residence.
(4)
No signs pertaining to the day-care service shall be permitted.
§ 27-303 General District Requirements.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984, § 6.03; as amended by Ord. 1-1999, 8/16/1999, § XXXII]
1.
All principal buildings, structures and uses erected or established after the adoption date of this chapter shall comply with the following requirements:
A.
Existing farms and properties shall be permitted the following number of lots or principle uses, based upon farm or property size at the date of adoption of this Ordinance.
Size of Farm or Property | Maximum Number of Lots or Uses | |
|---|---|---|
0 acres to less than 10 acres | Any number in accordance with § 27-304 | |
10 acres to less than 50 acres | 3 | |
50 acres to less than 100 acres | 4 | |
100 acres to less than 1.5 acres | 5 | |
175 acres to less than 250 acres | 6 | |
250 acres to less than 400 acres | 7 | |
400 acres or more | 8 |
Existing unsubdivided dwellings and principal, non-residential uses located on the farm or property shall be considered part of the permitted allotment. Furthermore, the maximum permitted number of lots or uses shall apply whether or not individual lots are subdivided at the time the uses are established. Resubdivision of lots created after the adoption date of this Ordinance shall also be subject to the maximum allotment determined for the original farm or property. |
B.
All applications for Building and Zoning Permits to erect a single family dwelling or principal, non-residential use structure on unsubdivided land and all applications for subdivision shall be accompanied by an agricultural plan identifying the following:
(1)
Size, shape and dimensions of the farm or property; size and location of all existing buildings; and size, location and use of all proposed buildings or lots.
(2)
Lots or uses previously approved under these regulations.
(3)
Land under active cultivation and land in woodlots or forests.
(4)
Soil information for the farm or property, including soil series and soil capability class, subclass and unit as classified within the 1981 Soil Survey of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania and Agricultural Handbook #210 of the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service.
C.
Applications to erect or establish a use or subdivide a farm or property shall be reviewed subject to the following criteria:
(1)
All uses or lots shall be established or located on non-prime farmland (Soil Capability Classes III — VII), when such land is available; and
(2)
The least suitable farmland (highest numbered Soil Capability Unit) shall be utilized for development in all cases, unless the applicant can demonstrate its unsuitability for the proposed use. When a soil has been determined to be unsuitable because of slope, drainage, flooding, sewage disposal deficiencies or other physical characteristics, then the least suitable remaining farmland shall be utilized for development; and
(3)
When a farm or property is comprised entirely of prime farmland (Soil Capability Classes I and II), then the least suitable or least prime land shall be utilized for development; and
(4)
Lots and uses shall be grouped, where possible, adjacent to other similar lots and uses to avoid a scattering of development. Lots and uses shall not be located near intensive farming operations. Subdivision or development shall not necessitate any new streets, except that one lot or use may be accessed via an unimproved fifty-foot right-of-way; and
(5)
Application for the last lot or use permitted within a farm or property shall be accompanied by a proposed deed for the residual farm land or property. Said proposed deed shall contain a restriction to identify that subdivision and development allotments have been used and that no further subdivision, development or establishment of additional principal uses shall be permitted. Said restrictive deed shall be recorded within 30 days of subdivision or permit approval for the last allowable lot or use. Failure to record said deed, subsequent removal of the deed restriction or subsequent subdivision or establishment of additional uses or lots shall constitute a violation of this chapter, punishable in accordance with Part 21 of this chapter.
(6)
A maximum lot area of two acres for single family dwellings is established in the district requirement chart in § 27-304. The purpose of the maximum lot size is to prevent the creation of large lots which remove excessive amounts of agricultural land from crop production. Maximum lot size shall not apply to:
(a)
Lot additions for agricultural purposes.
(b)
Subdivision of existing parcels of 10 acres or less in size.
(c)
Consolidation of residual land after other suitable lots have been removed.
(d)
Inclusion of excess areas which are unsuitable for farmland.
(e)
Lot design and layout which would otherwise unavoidable physically isolate the excess land from the remainder of the farm.
(f)
Subdivision of lots where Township Supervisors determine that the characteristics of the property dictate that lot design exceeding the two acre standard is desirable.
§ 27-304 Lot and Yard Requirements.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984, § 6.04]
A lot area, lot width, lot coverage, yard depths, and building height satisfying the requirements of the following table, unless otherwise specified heretofore in §§ 27-302 and 27-303, shall be provided for every dwelling unit and/or principal non-residential building or use hereinafter erected, altered, or established in this district.
District Requirements: | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lot Requirements | Yard Requirements One Total | |||||||
Use | Min. Lot Area | Max. Lot Area | Min. Lot Width | Max. Lot Coverage | Front | Side | Sides | Rear |
NON-RESIDENTIAL | ||||||||
USE OR BUILDING Specified in § 27-302, Subsection 1A to H | 1 acre | — | 150' | 20% | 50' | 20' | 40' | 50' |
USE OR BUILDING Specified by Special Exception in § 27-302, Subsection 1K | 1 acre | 4 acres[1] | 150' | 20% | 50' | 20' | 40' | 50' |
RESIDENTIAL | ||||||||
Single Family Detached | 1 acre | 2 acres | 125' | 20% | 50' | 20' | 40' | 50' |
No building shall exceed 2 1/2 stories or 35 feet in height unless authorized as a Special Exception. |
[1]
Maximum lot area shall not apply to lot additions for agricultural purposes and permitted uses specified within § 27-302, Subsection 1A through H, of this chapter.
§ 27-305 Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984, § 6.05]
Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with Part 14 of this chapter.
§ 27-306 Signs and Advertising Structures.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984, § 6.06]
Signs shall be permitted in accordance with Part 15 of this chapter.
§ 27-307 Supplementary District Regulations.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984, § 6.07]
The Supplementary District Regulations in Part 12 shall apply, where applicable, as additional requirements for this district.
§ 27-308 Environmental Improvements and Energy Conservation Requirements.
[Ord. 6-4-84, 6/4/1984, § 6.08]
The environmental and energy requirements in Part 13 shall apply, where applicable, as additional requirements for this district.
