Spring Township Berks County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 3
AGRICULTURAL/CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
§ 27-301 Agricultural Preservation District (A-1).
[Ord. 2007-03, 5/2/2007, § 301]
1.
Intent. It is the intent of the Agricultural Preservation District to promote the following:
A.
To preserve and protect agricultural land and highly productive soils in the rural areas.
B.
To maintain the opportunity for the production of all agricultural products for the residents of Centre County.
C.
To protect the area's rural atmosphere and lifestyle.
D.
To minimize impacts from incompatible land uses.
E.
To discourage the subdivision of large agricultural tracts into smaller lots contributing to sprawling development and further deterioration of rural character.
F.
To identify the "sending areas" for the region's Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Program.
G.
To implement the Nittany Valley Regional Comprehensive Plan which contains the goals of protecting agricultural lands and promoting agriculture as an important component of the local economy.
2.
District Regulations. Only uses listed below shall be permitted in the Agricultural Preservation District. All uses shall conform to the lot, yard setback, and maximum height regulations stipulated herein, as well as other appropriate requirements of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The District Regulations Table is included as an attachment to this chapter.
3.
General Requirements. Applicants shall identify measures to protect stream banks and stream corridors. Such measures may include, but are not limited to stream corridor buffers, riparian buffers, stream bank fencing, etc.
§ 27-302 Agricultural Development District (A-2).
[Ord. 2007-03, 5/2/2007, § 302; as amended by Ord. 2012-04, 5/7/2012]
1.
Intent. It is the intent of the Agricultural Development District to promote the following:
A.
To preserve and protect agricultural land in the rural areas.
B.
To protect the area's rural atmosphere and lifestyle and minimize impacts from incompatible land use.
C.
To keep substantial areas of permanent open space as one means of retaining that rural atmosphere.
D.
To provide fur limited and clustered development activities on appropriate sites, such as areas with less productive soils.
E.
To promote the continuation of farming in areas where it is already established.
F.
To implement the Nittany Valley Regional Comprehensive Plan which contains the goals of protecting agricultural lands and promoting agriculture as an important component of the local economy.
G.
To permit limited commercial and community facilities compatible with the rural environment, and offer economic alternatives to property owners which would not create serious nuisances or hazards if located within populous areas.
2.
District Regulations. Only uses listed below shall be permitted in the Agricultural Development District. All uses shall conform to the lot, yard setback, and maximum height regulations stipulated herein, as well as other appropriate requirements of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The District Regulations Table is included as an attachment to this chapter.
3.
General Requirements. Applicants shall identify measures to protect stream banks and stream corridors. Such measures may include, but are not limited to, stream corridor buffers, riparian buffers, stream bank fencing, etc.
§ 27-303 Conservation District (C).
[Ord. 2007-03, 5/2/2007, § 303; as amended by Ord. 2009-02, 4/6/2009]
1.
Intent. It is the intent of the Conservation District to promote the following:
A.
To preserve and protect the natural diversity of the rural areas.
B.
To preserve and protect the region's natural landscapes, including wooded areas, hillsides, ridges, steep slopes, wetlands, and floodplains.
C.
To protect the quality of the region's surface waters.
D.
To protect natural habitat areas and provide passive recreational opportunities.
E.
To discourage sprawling development patterns and further deterioration of rural character.
2.
District Regulations. Only uses listed below shall be permitted in the Conservation District. All uses shall conform to the lot, yard setback, and maximum height regulations stipulated herein, as well as other appropriate requirements of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The District Regulations Table is included as an attachment to this chapter.
3.
Development Standards. An environmental impact report shall be required prior to the creation of new lots within the Conservation District. This report shall identify important natural features on the site (e.g., steep slopes, soil types, wetlands, floodplains, surface water features, etc.) and shall provide a plan to manage potential impacts to these features. Proposed development activities should be located in such a manner as to minimize impacts to these features.