Shippensburg City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XV
Open Space Conservation Development
§ 150-129 Purpose.
The purpose of an open space conservation development is to allow continued development in the Open Space (O-S) District, with the intent to preserve significant amounts of open space in the Borough.
§ 150-130 Permitted uses.
Permitted uses have been designed and should be developed to encourage varying types of housing in an open space conservation development:
A.
Single-family dwelling.
B.
Single-family attached dwellings.
C.
Multifamily dwelling-up to six units.
D.
Private nature preserve.
E.
Tilling of soil, noncommercial.
F.
Agricultural, horticultural, etc.
G.
Home occupation.
H.
Accessory use.
I.
Professional office.
J.
Restaurant.
K.
Neighborhood convenience store.
§ 150-131 Requirements.
A.
Open space conservation developments shall only be allowed as a conditional use in the Open Space (O-S) District.
B.
Open space conservation developments shall only be allowed where public sewer and water service are provided.
C.
The minimum total lot area for an open space conservation development shall be the entire parcel, as it exists at the time of the adoption of this chapter.
D.
The housing density shall be determined using the following formula:
(1)
A minimum of 50% of the total lot area shall be preserved as permanently conserved nondevelopable open space land.
(2)
The remaining portion of the total lot area shall be used as developable land.
(3)
Maximum density shall be four dwelling units per acre in the developable portion of the site.
(4)
The minimum lot size shall be 9,000 square feet, and the maximum lot size shall be 20,000 square feet.
(5)
Dimensional requirements have been designed to encourage and should be developed to contain varying setbacks in an open space conservation development:
(a)
Front setback: 25 to 30 feet.
(b)
Side setback: 6 to 12 feet on both sides.
(c)
Rear setback: 25 to 30 feet.
E.
Areas permanently preserved as open space land should meet the following requirements:
(1)
Open space land conserved for agricultural purposes shall be shaped to allow maneuverability of current farm equipment.
(2)
Open space land shall be designed to protect sensitive areas on the lot, such as wetlands, floodplains and steep slopes. Sensitive areas shall be graphically depicted on the land development plan and preserved whenever possible as part of the overall development plan.
(3)
Land conserved for open space shall include walking/biking trails that provide recreational opportunities for residents living in the development. These trails shall not harm the protected areas and shall contribute to the recreational requirements in the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 137, Subdivision and Land Development.
(4)
Stormwater management areas and facilities may be included in the open space lands if one of the following methods, or a similar method that encourages water quality improvement as well as water quantity control as determined by the Shippensburg Borough Engineer, is designed:
(a)
Practices that create shallow wetland areas to treat urban stormwater and often incorporate small permanent pools and/or extended detention storage to achieve maximum water quality, such as:
[1]
Shallow wetland.
[2]
Pond/wetland system.
[3]
Pocket wetland.
(b)
Practices that create varying root depths that encourage infiltration to treat urban stormwater that often utilizes a mixture of wetland vegetation and upland vegetation depending on the soils present and the topography of the site:
[1]
Vegetated swales.
[2]
Vegetated infiltration basin.
[3]
Vegetated infiltration pond.
(5)
Access to any new development shall be provided by no more than two streets and should be designed to discourage through traffic.
(6)
Lot coverage. No more than 50% of any lot area may be covered by an impervious surface in the developable portion of an open space conservation development.
(7)
A landscaping plan shall be submitted along with the land development plan. The landscaping plan should show:
(a)
That access to the amenities described in Subsection E(3), above, are provided by trail or sidewalk in accordance with § 137-26F of the Shippensburg Borough Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
(b)
A vegetated buffer strip at least 50 feet in width is provided between the dwellings in the open space conservation development and the street that abuts the land development in accordance with § 137-32 of the Shippensburg Borough Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
(c)
Street trees shall be provided in accordance with § 137-32 of the Shippensburg Borough Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
(d)
Open space lands shall be maintained by a homeowners' association, which shall be organized by the developer.
F.
Sample layouts of an open space conservation development.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: The sample layouts are included at the end of this chapter.
