Springfield Township York County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Environmental Regulations
§ 500-98 Performance standards.
A.
In all districts, all uses and activities established after January 27, 1996, shall comply with the following standards: all existing uses and activities in compliance with the following standards on January 27, 1996, shall continue in compliance; and all existing uses and activities not in compliance with Subsections B through I of this section on January 27, 1996, shall, within one year following January 27, 1996, bring themselves into compliance. The purpose of these performance standards is to curtail any existing or potential environmental harm by any use in the Township, whether a principal or accessory use or a conforming or nonconforming use; specifically:
(1)
By permitting existing or potential environmental nuisances to be measured factually and objectively;
(2)
By ensuring that all land uses will provide methods to protect the Township and its neighbors from hazards and nuisances which can be prevented, controlled, or eliminated, as appropriate; and
(3)
By protecting industries or other land uses from arbitrary exclusion or persecution based solely on the nuisance production or reputation by any particular land use activity in the past.
B.
Noise. The sound level of any operation shall not exceed the decibel levels of the preferred frequencies cited below or as modified or exempted. The sound-pressure level shall be measured with an octave band analyzer calibrated in the preferred frequencies conforming to the specifications published by the American Standard Association (Preferred Frequencies for Acoustical Measurements, SI 6-1960, American Standards Association, New York, New York).
(1)
Residential standards. At no point on or beyond the lot line of any lot within any C, A, ROS, or R District, or on or beyond the district boundary line from any VC, HC, I, or CI District into any C, A, ROS, or R District, shall the sound-pressure level resulting from any use, operation, or activity exceed the maximum permitted sound-pressure levels set forth below:
Center Frequency (cycles per second) | Maximum Permitted Sound-Pressure Level (decibels) |
|---|---|
31.5 | 65 |
63.0 | 67 |
125.0 | 66 |
250.0 | 59 (sound-pressure level |
500.0 | 52 in decibels equals |
1,000.0 | 46 0.0002 dynes/cm) |
2,000.0 | 37 |
4,000.0 | 26 |
8,000.0 | 17 |
(2)
Commercial-industrial standards. At no point on or beyond the lot line of any lot within any VC, HC, CI, or I District [except on or beyond district boundary lines with C, A, ROS, or R District where the more stringent residential noise standards contained in § 500-98B(1) of this chapter shall be met] shall the sound-pressure level resulting from any operation in any district exceed the maximum permitted sound levels set forth below:
Center Frequency (cycles per second) | Maximum Permitted Sound-Pressure Level (decibels) |
|---|---|
31.5 | 76 |
63.0 | 74 |
125.0 | 68 |
250.0 | 63 (Sound-pressure level |
500.0 | 57 in decibels equals |
1,000.0 | 52 0.0002 dynes/cm) |
2,000.0 | 45 |
4,000.0 | 38 |
8,000.0 | 32 |
(3)
Exemptions.
(a)
The following sources of uses and activities shall be exempt from the noise level standards contained in § 500-98B(1) and (2) of this chapter:
[1]
Noises not directly under the control of the property user.
[2]
Occasionally used safety signals, warning devices, and emergency pressure-relief valves.
[3]
Noises emanating from construction and maintenance activities between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
[4]
Transient noises of moving sources such as automobiles, trucks, airplanes, and railroads.
(b)
Source. Industrial Performance Standards, Planning Advisory Service Report No. 272, American Planning Association, September 1971.
C.
Vibration.
(1)
No use shall cause vibrations exceeding the maximum values specified in this section. The maximum vibration is given as particle velocity which may be measured directly with suitable instrumentation or computed on the basis of displacement and frequency. When computed, the following formula shall be used:
PV | = | 6.28 F × D where |
PV | = | Particle velocity, inches per second |
F | = | Vibration frequency, cycles per second |
D | = | Single amplitude displacement of the vibration, in inches. |
(2)
Particle velocity shall be the vector sum of three individual components measured simultaneously in three mutually perpendicular directions.
Maximum Ground Transmitted Vibration | ||
|---|---|---|
Particle Velocity (inches per second) | ||
Zoning District | Adjacent Lot Line | Residential District |
C, ROS, and R | 0.02 | 0.02 |
A | 0.05 | 0.02 |
VC, HC, CI, and I | 0.10 | 0.02 |
(3)
Where vibration is produced as discrete impulses and such impulses do not exceed a frequency of 120 per minute, then the values in this table may be multiplied by two.
(4)
Source. Industrial Performance Standards, Planning Advisory Service Report No. 272, American Planning Association, September 1971.
D.
Explosive hazards. Explosive or detonable materials shall include but are not limited to: all primary explosives such as lead azide, lead styphnate, fulminates and tetracene; all high explosives such as TNT, RDX, HMX, PETN, and picric acid; propellants and components thereof, such as dry nitro-cellulose, black powder, boron hydrides, hydrazine and its derivatives; pyrotechnics and fireworks such as magnesium powder, potassium chlorate and potassium nitrate; blasting explosives such as dynamite and nitroglycerine; unstable organic compounds such as acetylides, tetraxoles and ozonides; unstable oxidizing agents such as perchloric acid, perchlorates, and hydrogen peroxide in concentration greater than 35%; nuclear fuels, fissionable materials and products, and reactor elements such as Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239; and any flammable solids, liquids, or gases which produce flammable or explosive vapors.
(1)
The manufacture or industrial processing of any explosive or detonable material is prohibited in all districts.
(2)
The storage or processing of explosive or detonable materials shall be conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
E.
Heat. No heat from any use or activity shall be sensed at any property line to the extent of raising the temperature of air or materials more than 1° F.
F.
Glare.
(1)
In all districts, outdoor lighting shall be so arranged and shielded to prevent objectionable illumination or glare upon adjoining residential uses in any district or upon any public street.
(2)
In VC, HC, CI, and I Districts, any operation or activity producing glare shall be conducted so that direct or indirect light from the source shall not cause illumination in excess of 0.5 footcandle when measured in any district other than a VC, HC, CI, or I District. (Source: The Lighting Handbook, Illuminating Engineering Society, New York, NY.)
G.
Air pollution. Ambient air quality standards have been established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection). In order to minimize overlapping regulations, the Township adopts these standards as its own. However, to govern situations of a localized nature, the following additional regulations are provided, and in case of conflict, the more restrictive shall apply:
(1)
Odor:
(a)
"Odor threshold" is defined as the lowest concentration of odorous matter that produces an olfactory response in normal human beings. Odor thresholds shall be measured in accordance with ASTM d 1931, 57, "Standard Method for Measurement of Odor in Atmosphere (Dilution Method)," or its equivalent.
[1]
Odorous material released from any operation or activity, other than agricultural uses, shall not exceed the odor threshold concentration beyond the lot line, measured either at ground level or habitable elevation.
[2]
Should any such odorous material contain toxic material, such airborne toxic matter shall not exceed 1/30 of the odor threshold at the appropriate points of measurement.
(b)
Source: Industrial Performance Standards, Planning Advisory Service Report No. 272, American Planning Association, September 1971.
(2)
Smoke:
(a)
For the purpose of grading the density or equivalent opacity of smoke, the Ringelmann Chart published by the U.S. Bureau of Mines shall be used.
[1]
All districts, except CI and I. The emission of smoke darker than Ringelmann No. 1 from any chimney, stack, vent, opening, or combustion process is prohibited.
[2]
CI and I Districts. The emission of smoke darker than Ringelmann No. 1 from any chimney, stack, vent, opening, or combustion process is prohibited; however, smoke of a shade not to exceed Ringelmann No. 3 is permitted for up to three minutes total in any one eight-hour period.
(b)
Source. Industrial Performance Standards, Planning Advisory Service Report No. 272, American Planning Association, September 1971.
(3)
Dust and particulates.
(a)
The total emission rate of dust and particulate matter from all vents, stacks, chimneys, flues, or other opening, or any process, operation, or activity shall not exceed the levels set forth below. The emission rate of particulate matter in pounds per hour from any single source shall be determined by selecting a continuous four-hour period which will result in the highest average emission rate.
[1]
In all districts except A Districts, the maximum emission rate of dust and particulate matter from all sources shall not exceed 0.5 pounds per hour per acre of lot area.
[2]
In A Districts, the maximum emission rate of dust and particulate matter from all sources shall not exceed three pounds per hour per acre of lot area.
(b)
In addition, in all districts, particulate matter emission from materials or products subject to becoming windblown shall be kept to a minimum by paving, oiling, wetting, covering, or other means, such as to render the surface wind resistant. Such sources include vacant lots, unpaved streets, yards and storage piles of bulk materials such stone, sand, cinders, manure, topsoil, etc.
Source: Industrial Performance Standards, Planning Advisory Service Report No. 272, American Planning Association, September, 1971. |
H.
Water pollution. All uses and activities in the Township shall meet all applicable requirements of the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law, June 22, 1937, P.L. 1987, 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq., as amended.
I.
Application of performance standards.
(1)
Any building, structure, or land developed, constructed, or used for any use, whether existing or proposed, or whether principal or accessory, shall comply with all the performance standards herein set forth.
(2)
If any existing use, building, or other structure is extended, enlarged, or reconstructed, the performance standards herein set forth shall apply to such extended, enlarged, or reconstructed portion or portions of such use, building, or other structure.
(3)
Determinations necessary for administration and enforcement of performance standards set forth herein range from those which can be made with satisfactory accuracy by a reasonable person using normal senses and no mechanical equipment to those requiring great technical competence and complex equipment for precise measurement. It is the intent of this chapter that:
(a)
Where determinations can be made by the Zoning Officer or other Township employees using equipment normally available to the Township or obtainable without extraordinary expense, such determinations shall be so made before notice of violation is issued.
(b)
Where technical complexity or extraordinary expense makes it unreasonable for the Township to maintain the personnel or equipment necessary for making difficult or unusual determinations, procedures shall be available for causing corrections of apparent violations of performance standards, in order to protect individuals from arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable administration and enforcement of the performance standard regulations and to protect the general public from unnecessary costs for administration and enforcement.
§ 500-99 Floodplain regulations.
Any new construction or development within areas of the Township which are subject to flooding shall meet all applicable provisions of Chapter 225, Floodplain Management, of the Code of Springfield Township.
§ 500-100 Buffering.
A.
When required. In general, buffering, either in the form of buffer yards and/or screening and landscaping, is appropriate between intensive activities and residential activities.
(3)
Where arterial or collector streets or railroads serve as district boundaries, no buffering is required along such boundary.
(4)
Where streams, runs, or other bodies of water serve as district boundaries, such stream, run, or river may serve to meet the buffering requirements, provided special exception approval is granted by the Zoning Hearing Board.
B.
Buffer yards.
(1)
Buffer yards shall be at least 50 feet in width, measured from the applicable lot line, unless otherwise required by this chapter. Buffer yards shall be in addition to required front, side, or rear setbacks, unless otherwise indicated.
(2)
All buffer yards shall be planted with grass seed, sod, or ground cover, shall be maintained, and shall be kept clean of all debris, rubbish, weeds, and tall grass in conformance with existing regulations.
(3)
No structure, manufacturing or processing activity, parking (including driveways other than those necessary for access to the lot in question), or storage of materials shall be permitted in the buffer yard.
§ 500-101 Outside storage.
A.
On-lot storage. Permitted outside storage, including trash storage areas, may not encroach upon any part of the street right-of-way, sidewalks, or other areas intended or designed for pedestrian use; required parking areas; and the required front setback. In addition, on-lot storage shall comply with the following:
(1)
In ROS, R, VC, and CH Districts, authorized outside storage and display areas shall occupy an area of less than one-half the existing building coverage.
(2)
In all districts, outside storage areas shall be screened from any public street or pedestrian walkway, any abutting residential use, and any adjoining ROS or R District in accordance with the screening and landscaping requirements set forth in § 425-37A and H of Chapter 425, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of Springfield Township.
B.
Storage of recreational vehicles. In ROS and R Districts, one recreational vehicle may be stored on a lot occupied by the owner of the vehicle, provided such vehicle is not stored in the front yard or on-street.