Zoneomics Logo
search icon

Upper Tulpehocken Township
City Zoning Code

ARTICLE XIV

General Regulations

§ 460-74 Prohibited uses.

No building or structure may be erected, altered or used, and no lot or premises may be used for any activity which is, in the opinion of the Township Supervisors, continuously noxious, injurious or offensive by reason of dust, smoke, odor, fumes, noise, vibration, gas, effluent discharge, illumination or similar substances or conditions.

§ 460-75 Access to structures.

Every building and structure hereafter erected or moved shall be on a lot adjacent to or have legal access to a public street or to a private street that has been approved by the Township Supervisors. All structures shall be located on lots so as to provide safe and convenient access for servicing, fire protection and required off-street parking.

§ 460-76 Erection of more than one principal structure on a lot.

In any district, more than one structure housing a permitted or permissible principal use may be erected on a single lot, provided that the area, yard and other requirements of this Part 1 pertinent to the district in which the lot is located shall be met for each structure as though it were on an individual lot, unless otherwise specifically provided in this Part 1.

§ 460-77 Storage of explosives.

No explosives may be stored in the EAP, C-1, C-2, C-3, R-1, R-2, W-P and R-P Zoning Districts. Explosives may be stored in the I-1 Zoning District only. In storing any such explosives, all applicable requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection shall be complied with.

§ 460-78 Residential accessory buildings, structures and uses.

A. 
General.
(1) 
No residential accessory building or residential accessory structure shall be permitted within any required front or side yard and within 10 feet of the rear lot line. For purposes of this section, any accessory building or accessory structure located within the rear yard may not be closer to any side lot line than the side yard requirement of the Zoning District in which the accessory building or accessory structure is located.
(2) 
No activities shall be permitted which will, in the opinion of the Township Supervisors, create a public nuisance or interfere with the use of adjacent lots.
(3) 
The maximum height of any accessory building or structure shall be 20 feet.
(4) 
The minimum distance between any accessory buildings or structures shall be five feet. The minimum distance between any accessory building or structure and a principal building shall be 10 feet.
(5) 
Residential accessory buildings and residential accessory structures include, but are not limited to, animal shelters, detached garages, swimming pools, greenhouses, storage sheds and tennis courts.
(6) 
The building area of any accessory building shall be limited to a maximum of 5,000 square feet, as long as it meets the lot coverage limits.
(7) 
No permanent accessory building or structure shall be constructed on any lot prior to the commencement of construction of the principal building to which said structure is accessory.
(8) 
Windmills, erected for the purpose of generating electricity, are allowed in all zoning districts. Front, side and rear setbacks for the windmill structure shall be a minimum equal to or greater than the height of the windmill and windmills shall not be limited in height. The windmills will comply with the guidelines of the existing noise ordinance.
B. 
Use regulations.
(1) 
Swimming pool. No permanent in-ground swimming pool shall be permitted unless it is enclosed by a fence at least four feet in height. Aboveground pools shall be enclosed by a fence at least four feet in height unless other means which prevent ready access to the pool and establish a four-foot-high barrier around the pool, such as having foldaway stairs, are provided by the applicant and are approved by the Zoning Officer.
(2) 
Detached garages.
(a) 
The maximum height shall be 20 feet.
(b) 
No temporary structure shall be permitted.
(c) 
Detached garages are subject to § 460-78A of this Part 1.
(3) 
Apartment and townhouse accessory uses shall be restricted to uses designed for residents of the apartment and townhouse units and may include such uses as areas for washing machines and dryers and vending machines; lockers and storage areas; recreational rooms, areas and lounges; swimming pools and outdoor recreational areas. One office per project for the purposes of administering and renting dwelling units may be established. One "sample" apartment or townhouse for display purposes shall be permitted for each type of dwelling unit to be constructed.
(4) 
Tennis courts shall have permanent fences at least 10 feet in height behind each baseline, extending at least the full width of the playing area.
(5) 
Patios, paved terraces and open porches shall not be located closer than six feet to any property line, except a property line which is an extension of a party wall, and shall not project further than 10 feet into any required front yard.

§ 460-79 Commercial and industrial accessory buildings, structures and uses.

A. 
General.
(1) 
No building or structure shall be located within any required front or side yard or within 10 feet of the rear lot line. For purposes of this section, any accessory building or accessory structure located within the rear yard may not be closer to any side lot line than the side yard requirement of the zoning district in which the accessory building or accessory structure is located.
(2) 
Windmills, erected for the purpose of generating electricity, require front, side and rear setbacks for the windmill structure to be a minimum equal to or greater than the height of the windmill and windmills shall not be limited in height. The windmills will comply with the guidelines of the existing noise ordinance and with utility regulations.
B. 
Use regulations.
(1) 
Storage areas. All such facilities shall be located in an area which has direct access to a street or driveway.
(2) 
Living quarters. Living quarters shall be permitted for proprietors and for watchmen, caretakers or similar employees.
(3) 
Restaurants, cafeterias and recreational facilities shall be for the use of employees only, unless they are permitted as principal uses in the district in which they are constructed.

§ 460-80 Highway frontage development in commercial and industrial districts.

A. 
All areas used for off-street parking, off-street unloading and loading, and the storage or movement of motor vehicles shall be physically separated from public or approved private streets or highways by a raised curb, planting strip or other suitable barrier against unchanneled motor vehicle entrance or exit, except for necessary accessways or access roads which supply entrance to and egress from such parking, loading or storage area. Along arterial highways, and major collectors, as classified in the Township's Comprehensive Plan, each use with less than 100 feet of frontage on a public or an approved private street shall have not more than one accessway to each such street.
B. 
In no case shall a use with more than 100 feet of frontage on a public or an approved private street have more than two accessways to each such street. No use with 100 feet or more frontage shall have more than two accessways to any one street for each 300 feet of frontage
[Amended 12-14-2021 by Ord. No. 4-2021]
C. 
The width, excluding radii, of entrances to and exits from parking areas measured at the street line shall conform to the following schedule:
Width
Minimum
(feet)
Maximum
(feet)
One-way
12
24
Two-way
24
36
(1) 
Each lane provided shall be a minimum of 12 feet in width.
(2) 
The radius of the edge of the driveway apron shall be at least 15 feet and no more than 35 feet.
D. 
The location and width of exit and entrance driveways shall be planned to interfere as little as possible with the use of adjacent property and with pedestrian and vehicular traffic on adjacent sidewalks and streets. Access driveways shall not be located in such a manner that they will cause a hazard to the free movement of normal highway traffic or cause areas of undue traffic congestion on the highway. The center line of an access driveway to any public or an approved private street shall be located at least 80 feet from the intersection of any street cartway lines, except in the case of a street intersecting the road which the driveway intersects directly opposite from the driveway.

§ 460-81 Landscaping.

A. 
Where district regulations require buffer yards, screening, planting strips and the like, these shall be subject to approval of the Zoning Officer prior to planting. The type and density of planting shall adequately provide the year-round screening effect required.
B. 
Plant materials used in screen planting shall be at least four feet in height when planted.
C. 
The screen planting shall be maintained permanently, and any plant material which is dead or does not appear to be thriving and healthy shall be replaced within one year.

§ 460-82 Lighting.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A. 
Purpose. To require and set minimum standards for outdoor lighting to:
(1) 
Provide for and control lighting in outdoor public places where public health, safety and welfare are potential concerns.
(2) 
Protect drivers and pedestrians from the glare of nonvehicular light sources.
(3) 
Protect neighbors and the night sky from nuisance glare and light trespass caused by improperly selected or poorly placed, aimed, applied, maintained or shielded light sources.
(4) 
Promote energy-efficient lighting design and operation.
(5) 
Protect and retain the existing rural character for Upper Tulpehocken Township.
B. 
Applicability.
(1) 
Uses that are proposed for use or operation during hours of darkness where there is public assembly and traverse, employee use, or other need for lighting for reasons of safety or security, including but not limited to the following: multifamily residential, residential developments, agricultural buildings and structures, commercial, industrial, recreational and institutional buildings and structures, and sign, billboard, architectural and landscape lighting applications.
(2) 
The Board of Supervisors may require lighting be incorporated for other uses, applications and locations or may restrict lighting in any of the above uses, as they deem necessary to promote health, safety and welfare.
(3) 
The glare-control requirements herein contained apply to lighting in all uses, applications and locations.
C. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FOOTCANDLE
Unit of light density incident on a plane (assumed to be horizontal unless otherwise specified), measured in lumens per square foot and measurable with an illuminance meter, aka light meter.
FULL CUTOFF
Attribute of a lighting fixture from which no light is emitted at or above a horizontal plane drawn through the bottom of the fixture and no more than 10% of the lamp's intensity is emitted at or above an angle 10° below that horizontal plane, at all lateral angles around the fixture.
FULLY SHIELDED
Attribute of a lighting fixture provided with internal and/or external shields and louvers to prevent brightness from lamps, reflectors, refractors and lenses from causing glare at normal viewing angles.
GLARE
The sensation produced by brightness in the field of view that is sufficiently greater than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted, to cause annoyance, discomfort or loss in visual performance and visibility, so as to jeopardize health, safety or welfare.
ILLUMINANCE
Quantity of light, measured in footcandles.
LIGHT TRESPASS
Light emitted by a lighting fixture or installation, which is cast beyond the boundaries of the property on which the lighting installation is sited.
LUMEN
As used in the context of this Part 1, the light-output rating of a lamp (light bulb).
D. 
Criteria.
(1) 
Illumination levels. Lighting, where required by this Part 1 or otherwise required or allowed by the municipality, shall have illuminances and uniformities and glare control in accordance with the current recommended practices of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) as contained in the IESNA Lighting Handbook and applicable Recommended Practices, except as may otherwise be required by this Part 1.
(2) 
Lighting fixture design.
(a) 
Fixtures shall be of a type and design appropriate to the lighting application and shall be aesthetically acceptable to the Township.
(b) 
For the lighting of predominantly horizontal surfaces such as, but not limited to parking areas, roadways, vehicular and pedestrian passage areas, merchandising and storage areas, automotive fuel-dispensing facilities, automotive sales areas, loading docks, culs-de-sac, active and passive recreational areas, building entrances, sidewalks, bicycle and pedestrian paths, and site entrances, fixtures shall be aimed straight down and shall meet IESNA full-cutoff criteria. Nondirectional fixtures with an aggregate rated lamp lumen output per fixture that does not exceed 1,000 lumens, e.g., the rated output of a standard nondirectional sixty-watt incandescent lamp, are exempt from the requirements of this subsection.
(c) 
For the lighting of predominantly nonhorizontal surfaces such as, but not limited to, facades, landscaping, signs, billboards, fountains, displays and statuary, which require the use of fixtures that are not aimed straight down, the fixtures shall be fully shielded and shall be installed and aimed so as to not project their output into the windows of neighboring residences, adjacent uses, past the object being illuminated, skyward or onto a public roadway.
(3) 
Control of glare.
(a) 
All lighting shall be aimed, located, designed, fitted and maintained so as not to present a hazard to drivers or pedestrians by impairing their ability to safety traverse and so as not to create a nuisance by projecting or reflecting objectionable light onto a neighboring use or property.
(b) 
Directional fixtures, e.g., floodlights and spotlights, shall be so shielded, installed and aimed that they do not project their output into the windows of neighboring residences, adjacent uses, past the object being illuminated, skyward or onto a public roadway or pedestrianway.
(c) 
Parking facility and vehicular and pedestrianway lighting (except for safety and security applications and all-night business operations), for commercial, industrial and institutional uses, shall be automatically extinguished no later than one hour after the close of business or facility operation. When safety or security lighting is proposed for after-hours illumination, it shall not be in excess of 25% of the number of fixtures or illuminance required or permitted for illumination during regular business hours.
(d) 
Illumination for signs, billboards, building facades and/or surrounding landscapes for decorative, advertising or aesthetic purposes is prohibited between 11:00 p.m. and dawn, on properties in and adjacent to residential zoning districts except as follows:
[1] 
That such lighting situated on the premises for a commercial establishment may remain illuminated while the establishment is actually open for business, and until one hour after closing.
[2] 
That all properly permitted billboards may remain illuminated during all hours of darkness, provided that the lighting is aimed and shielded, and brightness adjusted according to outdoor advertising industry standards, so as not to create glare or obstruction to visibility by drivers.
(e) 
Vegetation screens shall not be employed to serve as the primary means for controlling glare. Rather, glare control shall be achieved primarily through the use of cutoff fixtures, shields and baffles, and appropriate application of fixture-mounting height, wattage, aiming angle and fixture placement.
(f) 
The illumination projected from any property to a residential use shall at no time exceed 0.1 footcandle, measured line of sight from any point on the receiving property.
(g) 
The illumination projected from any property to a nonresidential use at no time shall exceed 1.0 footcandle, measured line of sight from any point on the receiving property.
(h) 
Externally illuminated billboards and signs shall be lighted by fixtures mounted at the top of the billboard or sign and aimed downward. The fixtures shall be designed, shielded and aimed to limit the light output onto and not beyond the sign or billboard.
(i) 
Except for certain recreational lighting covered elsewhere in this Part 1, fixtures meeting IESNA full-cutoff criteria shall not be mounted in excess of 20 feet above finished grade. Fixtures not meeting IESNA full-cutoff criteria, when permitted by the Board of Supervisors, shall not be mounted in excess of 16 feet above finished grade.
(j) 
The United States and the state flag shall be permitted to be illuminated from dusk till dawn. All other flags shall not be illuminated past 11:00 p.m. Flag lighting sources shall not exceed 10,000 lumens per flagpole. The light source shall have a beam spread no greater than necessary to illuminate the flag.
(k) 
Under-canopy lighting, for such applications as gas/service stations, hotel/theater marquees, fast-food/bank/drugstore drive-ups, shall be accomplished using flat-lens full-cutoff fixtures aimed straight down and shielded in such a manner that the lowest opaque edge of the fixture shall be below the light source at all lateral angles. The average illumination intensity in the area directly below the canopy shall not exceed 20 maintained footcandles and the maximum intensity shall not exceed 30 initial footcandles. Canopy lighting shall be turned off completely no later than one hour after closure of the business for the evening.
(l) 
Soffit lighting around building exteriors shall not exceed 15 initial footcandles.
(m) 
The use of white strobe lighting for tall structures such as smokestacks, chimneys and radio/communications/television towers is prohibited during hours of darkness, except as specifically required by FAA.
(4) 
Installation.
(a) 
New electrical feeds for new or existing lighting poles shall be run underground, not overhead, unless an engineer, electrician, or certified lighting designer provides a written statement to the Township, subject to approval of the Township Engineer, that an underground electrical feed would not be feasible.
(b) 
Poles supporting lighting fixtures for the illumination of parking areas and located directly behind parking spaces, or where they could be hit by snow plows, shall be placed a minimum of five feet outside paved area or tire stops, or placed on concrete pedestals at least 30 inches high above the pavement, or suitably protected by other municipality-approved means.
(c) 
Pole-mounted fixtures for the illumination of predominantly horizontal tasks, as defined in Subsection D(2)(b) of this section, shall be aimed straight down.
E. 
Recreational facilities. The nighttime illumination of outdoor recreational facilities for such sports as baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, track, and football typically necessitate higher-than-normally allowed fixture-mounting heights and aiming angles, utilize very high-wattage lamps and potentially produce unacceptable levels of light trespass and glare. Permission to illuminate such facilities shall be granted only when the Township is satisfied that the health, safety and welfare rights of nearby property owners and the Township as a whole have been properly protected.
(1) 
To assist in determining whether lighting will be permitted, land development applications shall be accompanied by not only the information required under Subsection F below, but also by a visual impact plan that contains the following:
(a) 
Plan views containing a layout of the recreational facility and showing pole locations and the location of residences on adjoining properties.
(b) 
Elevations containing pole and fixture mounting heights, horizontal and vertical aiming angles and fixture arrays for each pole location.
(c) 
Elevations containing initial vertical illuminance plots at the boundary of the site, taken at five feet line of sight.
(d) 
Elevations containing initial vertical illuminance plots on the windowed facades of all residences facing and adjacent to the recreational facility, which demonstrate compliance with the light trespass requirements of this section.
(e) 
A full description of the proposed lighting equipment, including shielding devices.
(f) 
Proposed frequency of use of the facility during hours of darkness and proposed time when the sports lighting will be extinguished.
(g) 
A narrative describing the measures proposed to achieve minimum off-site disturbance.
(2) 
Sporting events shall be timed to end at such time that all lighting in the sports facility, other than lighting for safe exit of patrons, can be extinguished by 10:00 p.m., regardless of such occurrences as extra innings or overtimes.
(3) 
Racetracks and such recreational venues as golf driving ranges and trap-shooting facilities, which require the projection of light at a horizontal or near horizontal angle, shall not be artificially illuminated.
(4) 
The following outdoor recreational facilities shall not be illuminated after 10:00 p.m. prevailing time if located within a residential district or sited on a nonresidential property located within 1,000 feet of a residential use: basketball, baseball, football, soccer, miniature golf, tennis, track.
(5) 
Maximum mounting heights for recreational lighting, when such lighting is permitted by the Township, shall be in accordance with the following:
(a) 
Basketball: 20 feet.
(b) 
Football: 70 feet.
(c) 
Soccer: 70 feet.
(d) 
Little league baseball:
[1] 
Two-hundred-foot radius: 60 feet.
[2] 
Three-hundred-foot radius: 70 feet.
(e) 
Miniature golf: 20 feet.
(f) 
Swimming pool aprons: 20 feet.
(g) 
Tennis: 20 feet.
(h) 
Track: 20 feet.
F. 
Plan submission. Where site lighting is required by this section, is otherwise required by the municipality or is proposed by applicant, lighting plans shall be submitted to the Township for review and approval with preliminary and final subdivision/land development plan applications and conditional use applications and shall, as a minimum, contain the following:
(1) 
A plan or plans of the site, complete with all structures, parking spaces, building entrances, traffic areas (both vehicular and pedestrian), vegetation that might interfere with lighting, and adjacent uses that might be adversely impacted by the lighting. The lighting plan shall contain a layout of all proposed fixtures by location, orientation, aiming direction, mounting height and type. The submission shall include, in addition to proposed area lighting, all other exterior lighting, e.g., architectural, building-entrance, landscape, flag, sign, canopy, soffit, etc.
(2) 
A ten-foot-by-ten-foot illuminance grid (point-by-point) plot of maintained horizontal footcandles overlaid on the site plan, plotted out to 0.0 footcandles, which demonstrates compliance with the light trespass, illuminance and uniformity requirements as set forth in Subsection D(1) of this section or as otherwise required by the municipality. When the scale of the plan, as judged by the Township, makes a ten-foot-by-ten-foot grid plot illegible, a larger grid spacing may be used.
(3) 
The complete lamp ordering nomenclature and lumen ratings, maintenance (light-loss) factors and IES photometric file nomenclature used in calculating the illuminance levels.
(4) 
Description of the proposed equipment, including fixture catalog cuts, photometrics, glare-reduction devices, lamps, on/off control devices, mounting heights, pole foundation details and mounting methods.
(5) 
Landscaping plans shall contain lighting fixture locations and shall demonstrate that the site lighting and landscaping have been coordinated to minimize conflict between vegetation and intended light distribution, both initially and at vegetation maturity.
(6) 
When requested by Upper Tulpehocken Township, applicant shall also submit a visual-impact plan that demonstrates appropriate steps have been taken to mitigate the potential consequences of on-site and off-site glare and to retain the rural character of the Township. This plan may require the inclusion of initial vertical footcandle values at specific off-site venues, e.g., bedroom windows of adjacent residential uses.
(7) 
Plan notes. The following note shall appear on the lighting plan:
(a) 
Post-approval alterations to lighting plans or intended substitutions for approved lighting equipment shall be submitted to the municipality for review and approval.
(b) 
The municipality reserves the right to conduct post-installation inspections to verify compliance with the section requirements and approved lighting plan commitments, and if deemed appropriate by the municipality, to require remedial action at no expense to the municipality.
(c) 
All exterior lighting shall meet IESNA full-cutoff criteria unless otherwise approved the municipality.

§ 460-83 Signs.

A. 
The purpose of this section is to promote and maintain overall community beautification; promote traffic safety by avoiding distractions and sight distance obstructions; protect property values and ensure compatibility with the character of neighboring existing and planned land uses; and assist in carrying out the goals of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Advertising Act, as amended.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 36 P.S. § 2718.101 et seq.
B. 
Signs shall only be erected and maintained when compliance with the provisions of this Part 1 and all other ordinances and regulations of the Township relating to the erection, alteration and maintenance of signs has been clearly demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Zoning Officer.
C. 
Permitting of signs.
(1) 
All signs shall comply with the provisions of this section. However, signs such as those lettered in the window of a business, temporary signs taped to the glass, signs regulated by § 460-83E(13), and any sign less that two square feet shall be exempt.
(2) 
All other signs shall require an Upper Tulpehocken Township zoning permit and a certificate of use and occupancy as regulated by §§ 460-110, 460-111, and 460-112 of this Part 1. Only types, sizes and heights of signs that are specifically permitted by this section within the applicable zoning district shall be allowed. Lawfully existing signs may be painted, repaired or changed in message without a new permit under this section, provided that the changes do not increase the area of the sign or otherwise result in noncompliance or an increased nonconformity with this section. An existing lawful nonconforming sign may be replaced with a new nonconforming sign, provided that the new sign is not more nonconforming in any way than the old sign. The replacement of an existing nonconforming sign must occur within 180 days of its removal.
D. 
General.
(1) 
No signs other than school warning signs, official traffic signs, public service signs and similar signs shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any street or extend over any street right-of-way. Signs of these types may be erected in any zoning district.
(2) 
No portion of any sign shall project over any lot line.
(3) 
Except in the case of school warning signs, traffic control signs, time-and-temperature signs, and similar signs, signs shall not contain moving parts nor use flashing or intermittent illumination, and the source of light shall be steady and stationary.
(4) 
Signs that are of such character, form, shape or color that they imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device or that have any characteristics which are likely to confuse or distract the operator of a motor vehicle on a public street (such as prominent use of the words "Danger" or "Stop"), are prohibited. Red, green or amber lights, except those contained within a school warning sign, traffic control sign, or similar sign, shall not be so located that they could create a danger by being construed as traffic lights.
(5) 
Spinners or any moving object used to attract attention are prohibited.
(6) 
No sign shall be so located or arranged that it interferes with safe sight distances for vehicles exiting or entering any property.
(7) 
No sign shall be placed in such a position, or have such a source of illumination that it will cause, in the opinion of the Township Supervisors, any danger to pedestrians or vehicular traffic.
(8) 
No sign shall be utilized in a manner which produces a light intensity greater than 1.0 footcandle beyond the boundaries of the property containing the signage. No beams of light shall be directed towards adjacent properties or public roads, and all light sources shall be shielded from adjoining properties and streets.
(9) 
No sign shall be erected or located as to prevent free ingress or egress to any window, door or fire escape.
(10) 
No sign which emits smoke, visible vapors or particulates, sound or odor shall be permitted.
(11) 
No signs except permitted off-premises, official, political, traffic or public service signs shall be erected on a property to which it does not relate.
(12) 
Any vehicle or structure to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that the carrying of such sign or signs no longer is incidental to the primary purpose of the vehicle or structure but becomes a primary purpose in itself shall be considered a freestanding sign and as such shall be subject to requirements for freestanding signs in the district in which such vehicle or structure is located.
(13) 
Signs which contain information that states or implies that a lot may be used for any purpose not permitted under the applicable provisions of this section are prohibited.
(14) 
Signs or displays that include words or images that are obscene, pornographic or that an average reasonable person would find highly offensive to public decency are prohibited.
(15) 
No sign shall be posted on any property or on any sign pole or any public utility pole, unless permission has been received by the owner.
(16) 
No sign shall be tacked, stapled or nailed to a utility pole, except by an authorized utility, or a by a person who has obtained permission from the authorized utility.
(17) 
The area immediately surrounding each sign shall be kept in a clean, sanitary and healthful condition. No accumulations of loose paper, bottles, cans, garbage or similar items shall be permitted.
(18) 
Every sign must be constructed of durable material and be kept in good condition. Peeling paint shall be removed and replaced. Broken letters or other parts shall be repaired or replaced. Broken lights shall be replaced, and similar maintenance tasks shall be performed when necessary.
(19) 
Any sign which becomes dilapidated or which creates a hazard to the public health, safety or welfare shall be removed at the expense of the owner or lessee. The Township Zoning Officer shall make such determination as to state of repair.
(20) 
Any and all signs lawfully permitted in the Township are further subject to any requirements of any other local, state or federal agencies having jurisdiction over such matters.
E. 
Signs permitted in W-P, R-P, EAP, R-1 and R-2 Districts.
(1) 
Shall include signs listed in § 460-83D(1), other signs enumerated in this section, and no others.
(2) 
Identification signs or bulletin or announcement boards for schools, churches or similar institutions, and for clubs, lodges or similar uses, provided that:
(a) 
No more than two such signs shall be erected on any frontage of any one property.
(b) 
No side of any such sign shall exceed 25 square feet in area.
(c) 
Signs shall be erected on the property on which the use is conducted.
(3) 
Signs indicating the name, profession or activity of the occupant of a dwelling, provided:
(a) 
No side of any such sign shall exceed eight square feet in area.
(b) 
No more than one such sign shall be permitted for each permitted use or dwelling on any one street frontage.
(4) 
Signs advertising the rental or sale of premises, provided that:
(a) 
No side of any such sign shall exceed 12 square feet in area.
(b) 
A sign shall be located upon the property to which it refers.
(5) 
Temporary signs of contractors, architects and the like, provided that:
(a) 
Such signs shall be removed promptly upon completion of the work.
(b) 
No side of any such sign shall exceed 12 square feet in area.
(c) 
Such signs shall be located upon the property on which the work is being done.
(d) 
Such signs shall be no closer than 10 feet to a front or side lot line.
(e) 
No more than one such sign for each contractor or the like shall be placed on any one street frontage.
(6) 
Signs advertising a lawful nonconforming use, provided that:
(a) 
No side of any such sign shall exceed 12 square feet in area.
(b) 
The sign shall be erected only on the premises on which such nonconforming use is located.
(c) 
No more than one such sign shall be erected on any one street frontage.
(d) 
No sign shall be located within 10 feet of a front or side lot line, except signs attached to buildings.
(7) 
Signs necessary for the identification and protection of public utility facilities, provided that no side of any such sign shall exceed 12 square feet in area.
(8) 
Signs within a residential subdivision to direct persons to a rental office or sample unit within that subdivision, provided that no side of any such sign shall exceed four square feet in area.
(9) 
Trespassing signs and signs indicating the private nature of premises or controlling hunting activities on the premises. No side of any such sign shall exceed two square feet in area.
(10) 
Identifying signs for the purpose of indicating the name of residential subdivision, provided that not more than one such sign shall be allowed for each entrance to the subdivision from a public street and no such sign shall exceed 12 square feet in area.
(11) 
Signs advertising the sale of farm products, nursery products or livestock produced or raised on the premises, provided:
(a) 
No side of any such sign shall exceed 15 square feet in area.
(12) 
Signs indicating membership in agricultural associations or cooperatives or specialization in a particular breed of animal or plants, provided that:
(a) 
The area on one side of any such sign shall not exceed 15 square feet.
(13) 
Temporary signs advertising elections and political candidates, fairs and social events of nonprofit, noncommercial organizations and the like, subject to:
(a) 
Such signs shall be displayed no more than 60 days prior to the event which they advertise and shall be removed within 30 days after the conclusion of the advertised event.
(b) 
The area on one side of any such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet.
F. 
Signs in C-1, C-2, C-3, and I-1 Districts. Signs may be erected and maintained, provided that:
(1) 
The total area on one side of all signs placed on or facing any one street frontage of any one premises shall not exceed 200 square feet, except in the case of a building housing more than one commercial or industrial use.
(2) 
The area on any one side of any advertising sign or directional sign shall not exceed 25 square feet.
(3) 
No more than two freestanding signs shall be allowed on any one street frontage of any one property.
(4) 
No more than one directional sign shall be allowed on any one street frontage of any one property.
(5) 
No more than three separate signs shall face any one street frontage of any one property, except in the case of a building housing more than one commercial or industrial use.
(6) 
No signs attached to a building facade shall have an area exceeding 25% of the area of the building wall on which it is located.
(7) 
No portion of a freestanding sign shall be located closer than 10 feet to a front of side lot line.
(8) 
In the case of a building housing more than one commercial or industrial use, one permanent identifying sign for the building, the area on one side of which shall not exceed 100 square feet, may be erected on each street frontage. In addition, for each commercial or industrial use located within that building, one sign, the area of which shall not exceed 50 square feet, may be attached to the total area of the wall to which it is attached. Signs may project perpendicularly from buildings as provided for in Subsection J(4)(c).
G. 
Portable signs.
(1) 
Portable signs are a particular type of sign that has the characteristics of a temporary sign but that has been or may have been inappropriately used as a permanent sign. This subsection is based on the policy that if a user desires to regularly display a sign for regularly changing messages, that the user erect a permanent sign within all of the requirements of this section.
(2) 
Portable sign defined.
PORTABLE SIGN
A freestanding sign that is attached to a chassis that allows it to be towed from one location to another or that can be transported on a flat-bed truck and that is not permanently attached to a building or the ground.
(3) 
A portable sign, including any such sign that may have been displayed prior to the adoption of this section and which does not have a lawful permit as a permanent sign, shall only be permitted if it meets all of the following requirements:
(a) 
Shall be permitted only on the lot of a permitted principal commercial use.
(b) 
Shall have a maximum sign area of 40 square feet on each of a maximum of two sides.
(c) 
Shall only include one such sign per principal use or per lot, whichever is more restrictive.
(d) 
Shall need a zoning permit, which shall state the dates during which the sign may be displayed.
(e) 
Shall only be displayed on a lot for four periods per calendar year, which shall not exceed 30 consecutive days per period during a calendar year. Failure to remove the sign after each thirty-day period shall constitute a zoning violation.
(f) 
Shall not obstruct safe sight distance for any vehicles entering or exiting the property containing such a sign. Shall not be placed within the existing street right-of-way.
(g) 
Shall not include flashing or blinking lights.
H. 
Abandoned or outdated signs. Signs advertising a use no longer in existence (other than a sign relating to a building that is clearly temporarily vacant and being offered to new tenants or for purchase) shall be removed within 180 days of the cessation of such use.
I. 
Off-premises signs (including billboards and advertising signs). Off-premises signs are controlled by this section for the following purposes: to prevent visual pollution in the Township and protect property values; prevent glare on adjacent property and streets; protect the open space and natural character of areas of the Township planned to remain agricultural, woodland, or rural preservation areas; avoid the creation of additional visual distractions to motorists, especially along the busy arterial streets that involve complex turning movements, congestion and numerous traffic hazards; recognize that this section allows every landowner a reasonable use for their land; avoid off-premises signs that would have an unfair advantage over on-premises signs in the competition for attention, because off-premises signs typically are higher and larger than on-premises signs.
(1) 
An off-premises sign is only permitted in the C-2, C-3, I-1 and I-78 Commercial Billboard Overlay Districts and shall require a zoning permit. A zoning permit shall be required for any new sign or substantially rebuilt sign which replaces or enlarges an existing off-premises sign.
(2) 
An off-premises sign is only permitted within a maximum of 200 feet of existing right-of-way of an arterial street and a minimum of 10 feet from any nonresidential lot line. Any off-premises sign must be set back at least 50 feet from the arterial street center line or must be beyond the street right-of-way line (if that line is more than 50 feet from the center line). No off-premises sign shall be located within 200 feet of an existing residential lot line.
(3) 
No off-premises sign or sign face shall be attached in any way to any other off-premises sign. Off-premises signs shall have a maximum of two sign faces.
(4) 
The maximum area of each sign face an off-premises sign shall be 200 square feet, except such signs along or near I-78 may be 300 square feet.
(5) 
Any off-premises sign shall be separated by a minimum of 1,000 feet from any other off-premises sign, including signs on either side of a street and including existing signs in other municipalities.
(6) 
The maximum height of an off-premises sign shall be 50 feet.
(7) 
Existing off-premises signs along or adjacent to I-78 may be rebuilt in place and enlarged up to 300 square feet. However, any new off-premises sign along or adjacent to I-78 must be located a minimum of 1,000 feet from any other off-premises sign whether existing, new, or proposed. A proposed sign is one for which a zoning permit is pending or issued and in effect.
(8) 
This section is not intended to require the removal of an existing lawfully placed off-premises sign that is in structurally sound condition.
(9) 
This section applies to all types of off-premises signs except as may be specifically provided for elsewhere in this section.
(10) 
Signs erected and maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation are permitted by right in all districts. Such signs that identify business services available at an interchange are specifically encouraged as an appropriate and orderly means of providing information without causing visual pollution or traffic hazards.
J. 
On-premises business signs.
(1) 
All on-premises business signs shall require an Upper Tulpehocken Township zoning permit and certificate of use and occupancy as regulated by §§ 460-110, 460-111 and 460-112 of this Part 1.
(2) 
All on-premises business signs shall meet the requirements of Subsection J of this section.
(3) 
On-premises business signs include freestanding signs, wall signs, roof signs, and window signs as defined in § 460-6 of this Part 1.
(4) 
The intent of this subsection is to permit and regulate freestanding signs, wall signs, roof signs, and window signs in Upper Tulpehocken Township.
(a) 
The total area on all sides of all signs placed on or facing any one street frontage of any one premises shall not exceed 200 square feet aggregate except in the case of a building housing more than one commercial or industrial use.
(b) 
In the case of a building housing more than one commercial or industrial use, one freestanding sign may be erected on which may be placed one sign no more than 50 square feet each side identify the commercial, business, or industrial complex (e.g., "plaza," "park," "commons"). On the freestanding sign, one business sign of no more than two sides may be attached for each business/industrial use, but each sign shall not exceed the square footage permitted in each district as regulated in Subsection J(4)(l). In addition, for each commercial, business, or industrial use located within that building, one wall sign, the area of which shall not exceed 50 square feet, may be attached to that portion of the building housing the use, provided that no such sign shall equal more than 25% of the total area of the wall to which it is attached. Signs may project perpendicularly from buildings as provided for in Subsection J(4)(c) below.
(c) 
No wall sign permitted to be attached to a building face shall project more than 12 inches from the building face to which it is attached. These signs shall be at least eight feet above the ground, measured from the highest grade elevation under the sign to the lowest part of the sign. Wall signs that have the sign face perpendicular to the building face may project from the front of a building perpendicularly to the front of the building a distance of not more than four feet, provided that such signs are entirely located underneath a roof overhang or similar architectural feature, such signs are no more than 12 square feet in area on any one side, and all such sings are at least eight feet above the ground, measured from the highest grade elevation under the sign to the lowest part of the sign.
(d) 
A freestanding sign for a commercial or industrial business shall not be located within 20 feet of any lot line adjoining a property with a residential dwelling.
(e) 
No portion of freestanding sign shall be closer than 10 feet to any street right-of-way.
(f) 
The maximum height of wall signs shall be equal to the total height of the building face to which they are attached.
(g) 
In the case of a building housing more than one commercial, business, or industrial use, no more than three separate signs for each use shall face any one street frontage of any one property.
(h) 
No portion of a roof sign may project further than any roof overhang on which it is erected.
(i) 
The height of a roof sign may not exceed the height of the highest part of the roof on which the sign is erected. Roof signs erected on flat roofs may not exceed five feet in height measured from the highest architectural feature of the building.
(j) 
In no case may the highest point of a roof sign be more than 50 feet above the average elevation of the ground immediately adjacent to the building on which it is erected.
(k) 
Only one roof sign is permitted per lot on which commercial, business, or industrial uses are permitted, regardless of the number of uses permitted on the premises.
(l) 
All signs that are located within in a C-1, C-2, C-3, and I-1 Zoning District and which are used for noncommercial, nonbusiness, or nonindustrial uses shall be regulated as if such use would be within the R-1, R-2, R-P, W-P, or EAP Zoning District.

§ 460-84 Loading areas.

A. 
Hard-surfaced, all-weather off-street loading and unloading spaces, with proper access from a street, driveway or alley, shall be provided on any lot on which a building for trade or business is hereafter erected or substantially altered. All such areas for the loading and unloading of vehicles, and for the servicing of establishments by refuse collection, fuel and other service vehicles, shall be of such size, design and arrangement that they may be used without blocking or otherwise interfering with the use of automobile accessways, parking facilities and pedestrianways. All loading areas shall be paved. Loading areas shall not be located within required front yards.
B. 
The number and size of loading spaces provided shall be appropriate for the use to be conducted on the premises. At least one loading space, having a minimum area of 720 square feet and minimum dimensions of 12 feet by 60 feet, shall be provided for each use. When a zoning permit is applied for, the application for the permit shall show all provisions for off-street loading and include supporting data (data on number, frequency and size of vehicles which will use the loading facilities) which would justify, in the opinion of the Zoning Officer, any reduction in the number and size of spaces to be provided.

§ 460-85 Off-street parking.

A. 
Off-street parking facilities shall be provided whenever:
(1) 
A building is constructed or a new use established.
(2) 
The use of an existing building is changed to a use requiring more parking facilities.
(3) 
An existing building is altered so as to increase the amount of parking spaces required.
B. 
Each parking space shall have a minimum area of 200 square feet and minimum dimensions of 10 feet by 20 feet. In addition, appropriate driveways, aisles and maneuvering space shall be provided as necessary to permit safe and convenient access to and use of the area provided for parking purposes. Proper access from a street, alley or driveway shall be provided.
C. 
Parking spaces for residential uses shall be located on the same lot as the use served and shall be located behind the street right-of-way line. Parking spaces for other uses associated with the same lot shall be provided for on the same lot as the use being served or in parking facilities within 200 feet of the use, except in the case of a shopping center or similar grouping of buildings on a lot, in which case, all parking areas shall be provided within the lot boundaries.
D. 
Parking in the R-1 and R-2 Districts are limited to those vehicles customarily used for residential purposes except:
(1) 
One commercial motor vehicle may park on a residential lot within the R-1 and R-2 Zoning Districts, provided that it is parked in a visually screened area, and that it is not allowed to be left unattended if the vehicle and/or the equipment associated with the commercial vehicle is running.
(2) 
No tractor-trailer truck, or trailer from a tractor-trailer truck, shall be stored or parked for more than 24 hours within the R-1 and R-2 Districts unless it is stored within a completely enclosed building, and that the tractor and/or trailer is not allowed to be left unattended if the tractor, and/or equipment associated with the tractor and/or trailer is running.
E. 
Joint parking facilities for two or more uses may be established, provided that the number of spaces provided is not less than the sum of the spaces required for each individual use.
F. 
All parking spaces and means of access, other than those relating to a dwelling, shall be adequately illuminated during night hours of use. The illumination shall be designed and located so that the light sources are shielded from adjoining properties and public and private streets. The illumination shall meet the requirements of § 460-82 of this Part 1.
G. 
All common parking areas and access drives serving commercial, retail, and industrial uses shall be hard-surfaced, all-weather and shall be graded to provide convenient vehicular access and proper drainage. The maximum grade of the parking area shall not exceed 6%. Surface water shall not discharge directly onto public streets, sidewalks or other premises.
H. 
No areas necessary to fulfill the off-street parking requirements of this Part 1 shall be used for the sales, dead-storage, repair, dismantling or servicing of vehicles.
I. 
Off-street parking facilities existing at the effective date of this Part 1 shall not be subsequently reduced to an amount less than that required under this Part 1 for a similar new building or use.
J. 
The width of aisles in parking areas shall be no less than listed in the following table:
Angle of Parking
(degrees)
Aisle Width
One-Way
(feet)
Two-Way
(feet)
90°
20
24
60°
18
20
45°
15
20
30°
12
20
K. 
When the required number of parking spaces is computed and a fraction of a parking space results, any fraction of one-quarter or greater shall be considered a full parking space.
[Amended 12-14-2021 by Ord. No. 4-2021]
L. 
Where parking requirements are determined by the number of seats and no permanent seats are provided, only temporary seats, the number of parking spaces to be provided shall be based upon the capacity for temporary seats in normal usage.
M. 
Parking areas shall be arranged so that no portion of any vehicle parked within a designated parking space can extend over any property line of the lot on which it is parked.
N. 
Parking areas for nonresidential uses which are designed to contain more than 10 vehicles shall be screened from the view of persons on any land zoned W-P, R-P, EAP, R-1 or R-2 which is adjacent to the land on which the nonresidential parking area is located. Any such screening shall meet the requirements of § 460-81 of this Part 1.
O. 
Unless otherwise provided elsewhere in this Part 1, the minimum off-street parking requirements shall be as follows:
(1) 
Minimum off-street parking requirements shall be as follows:
Use
Minimum Number of Parking Spaces
Residential uses
2 parking spaces per dwelling unit
Industrial, wholesaling or warehousing establishment
1 space per employee or the combined employment of the 2 largest successive shifts
Restaurant, tavern or similar use
1 space for each 4 seats plus 1 space for each employee on the largest shift
Retail and service establishments and farm-related businesses
1 space for each 200 square feet of building floor area devoted to patron use and 1 space per employee or the combined employment of the 2 largest successive shifts
Office buildings
1 space for each 200 square feet of building floor area devoted to office use
Motel, hotel, tourist home or similar establishment
1 space for each rental unit plus 1 space for each employee on the largest shift
Medical, dental and paramedical offices clinics
5 spaces for each person engaged in practice
Drive-in eating establishment (no indoor seating provided)
1 space for each 1,000 square feet of lot area (the required number of spaces not to exceed 20)
Bowling alley
5 spaces per alley
Funeral home
1 space for each 4 seats
Auditorium, theater, municipal building, place of worship, club or lodge, or other place of public assemblage
1 space for every 4 seats
Library or museum
1 space per 300 square feet of floor area devoted to patron use
Nursery schools
1 space per employee plus 1 space for loading and unloading of children for each 5 children accommodated in the school
Elementary and junior schools
1 space per employee plus 5 spaces for visitor parking
High schools
1 space per 4 students, plus 1 space per employee and 5 spaces for visitor parking
Skating rink, swimming pool, dance hall, indoor recreational establishment
1 space per 50 square feet devoted to patron use, plus 1 space per employee
Motor vehicle service station or repair garage
2 parking spaces per service bay
Family farm support business
Subject to § 460-29H for existing condition
Farm stands
1 space per each 200 square feet of building area
(2) 
For any building or use not covered above, the Zoning Officer shall apply the standard for off-street parking spaces in the above schedule deemed, by the Zoning Officer, to most closely approximate the proposed building or use.

§ 460-86 Private residential driveways.

A. 
Private driveway entrances or exits into a street from a corner lot shall be located at least 50 feet from the intersection of any street right-of-way lines.
B. 
No driveway entrance or exit shall be less than 10 feet or more than 20 feet in width, excluding radii.
C. 
No driveway serving a single-family detached or single-family semidetached dwelling shall be located within five feet of any side lot line, except in the case of driveways which adjoin one another or shared driveways.
D. 
No driveway shall be constructed in such a manner so as to create a drainage problem on an adjacent property.

§ 460-87 Front yard exceptions.

When an unimproved lot is situated between two improved lots with front yard dimensions less than those required for the zoning district in which the unimproved lot is located, the front yard required for the unimproved lot may be reduced to a depth equal to the average of the two adjoining lots; provided, however, that this provision shall only apply in such cases where the improved lots in question are improved as of the time of the adoption of this Part 1. For the purpose of this section, an unimproved lot shall be the same as a vacant lot and an improved lot shall be one on which a principal building is erected.

§ 460-88 Home occupations regulations.

A. 
Only a resident of the dwelling unit may practice an occupation carried on in a dwelling unit. This resident shall be the sole practitioner of the home occupation. The professional office of a doctor of medicine, surgeon, dentist, architect, lawyer, accountant, insurance agent, real estate broker, tax collector, engineer, massage therapist, music or voice instructor (if limited to a single pupil at a time), artisan, craftsman, computer programmer, website designer, computer consultant, telecommuter, dressmaker, milliner or seamstress shall be deemed to be a "home occupation," provided that the principal person so employed is a resident of the dwelling. The operation of a barber shop or beauty shop shall also be construed to be a home occupation.
B. 
All home occupations require a zoning permit and a certificate of use and occupancy as regulated by §§ 460-110, 460-111 and 460-112 of this Part 1.
C. 
Not more than two persons, whether paid or unpaid, may be employed by the sole practitioner of the home occupation to provide secretarial, clerical or other similar assistance.
D. 
Such occupations shall be incidental or secondary to the use of the property as a residence and are limited to those occupations customarily conducted within a dwelling unit. The home occupation use shall not change the character of the property as a residence.
E. 
No display of products shall be visible from adjoining properties or streets.
F. 
There shall be no outside advertising other than one one-sided or two-sided sign of no more than two square feet in area on each side.
G. 
None of the goods available for retail sale shall be explosives or other hazardous materials or substances.
H. 
No noise, odor, dust, vibration, electromagnetic interference, smoke, heat or glare shall be perceptible at or beyond the lot boundaries.
I. 
No storage of materials or products shall be permitted outside buildings.
J. 
Not more than the equivalent of 25% of the total gross floor area of the existing dwelling unit shall be used for the purpose of a home occupation.
[Amended 9-10-2019 by Ord. No. 3-2019]
K. 
Any need for parking generated by the residence and by the home occupation shall be met off-street on the lot on which the home occupation is carried out and shall be provided behind the building setback line. The Zoning Officer shall determine if there is a need for additional parking and the number of spaces provided.
L. 
Home occupations shall be permitted by right in all zoning districts if conducted within a dwelling, and are permitted by conditional use to be conducted within any existing accessory buildings or structures. No accessory buildings or structures shall be constructed for the sole purposes of housing a home occupation.
[Amended 9-10-2019 by Ord. No. 3-2019]
M. 
No more than one home occupation may be practiced on any one premises.

§ 460-89 (Reserved) [1]

[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 460-89, Fences, was repealed 12-14-2021 by Ord. No. 4-2021.

§ 460-90 Corner lot restrictions.

A. 
On every corner lo,t there shall be provided a yard, equal in depth to the front yard requirement of the particular zoning district in which the corner lot is located, on each side of the lot which is adjacent to a street, except that when no front yard is required, all side yards shall meet the side yard requirements of the applicable zoning district.
B. 
On a corner lot, no wall, fence or other structure may be erected or altered and no hedge, tree, shrub or other growth shall be maintained which may cause danger to the drivers of vehicles on a public road by obscuring the drivers' view of the intersected road.
C. 
Clear sight triangles shall be provided at all street intersections. Within such triangle, no object shall be permitted which obscures vision above the height of 2 1/2 feet and below 10 feet, measured from the center line grade of intersecting streets. Such triangles shall be established from a distance of 75 feet from the point of intersection of the center lines of the intersecting streets.
D. 
On a corner lot, no fence may be erected or altered which may cause danger to the drivers of vehicles on a public road by obscuring the drivers' view of the intersected road.

§ 460-91 Projections into yards.

The following projections shall be permitted into required yards and shall not be considered in the determination of yard size or lot coverage:
A. 
Terraces, patios or open porches, provided that such terraces, patios or open porches are not roofed or otherwise enclosed, are not closer than six feet to any lot line, except a lot line which is the projection of a party wall, and do not project further than 10 feet into any required front yard.
B. 
Open balconies or fire escapes and projecting architectural features such as bay windows, cornices, eaves, roof overhang, chimneys and window sills, provided that all such features shall project no more than three feet into any required yard and shall not be located closer than six feet to any lot line, except lot lines which are the projection of party walls.
C. 
Uncovered stairs and landings, provided such stairs or landings do not exceed three feet, six inches in height, do not project more than three feet into any required yard and are not located closer than six feet to any lot line, except lot lines which are the projection of party walls.
D. 
Lamp posts, mail boxes, walkways, driveways, retaining walls and steps.
E. 
Temporary structures, construction offices or similar structures.

§ 460-92 Floodway controls.

See the Floodplain Management Ordinance (Ordinance No 9 of 1997, as amended).[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See now Ch. 210, Floodplain Management, of the Code of the Township of Upper Tulpehocken.

§ 460-93 Conduct of agricultural activities.

Agricultural activities are permitted by right to be conducted within the R-1, R-P, I-1, and EAP Zoning Districts within Upper Tulpehocken Township and may be conducted even though those activities may create an annoyance or inconvenience to neighboring residential uses due to sights, sounds, smells or other conditions resulting from the agricultural activities, provided that the agricultural activities are conducted in accordance with any and all the requirements of the Township and the state and are not conducted in a manner which creates a definite danger to the health or safety of neighboring property owners.

§ 460-94 Slope controls.

The following controls shall apply, in all zoning districts, and in all areas of the Township where the slope of the land exceeds 25%:
A. 
An Erosion and Sediment Control Plan shall be approved by the Berks County Conservation District prior to the establishment of any building, structure or use.
B. 
The applicant shall indicate through his engineer with a signed and sealed report and/or plan the methods whereby structural and foundation problems caused by slope conditions will be overcome and the natural watershed will be maintained. Said report or plan shall be reviewed and approved by the Township Engineer.
C. 
Prior to any alteration of the existing grades, Subsections A and B of this section need to be completed and approvals obtained. In addition, a grading plan shall be submitted by the applicant's engineer and shall be approved by the Township Engineer prior to commencement of any sort of earthwork.

§ 460-95 Accessory building setback exceptions.

On any lot on which a principal building existed at the effective date of this Part 1, an accessory building to such existing principal building which is constructed after the effective date of this Part 1 does not have to be set back farther from any street right-of-way than the principal building which existed at the effective date of this Part 1.

§ 460-96 Environmental performance standards for industrial districts.

The Township Supervisors may require safeguards to assure compliance with the following performance standards. Upon request of the Township, the owner shall furnish or obtain proof at his own expense that he is in compliance with the following standards:
A. 
Air management.
(1) 
Open burning is not permitted.
(2) 
No gases, vapors or particulates shall be emitted from the facility which are harmful to persons, property, animals or vegetation beyond the lot lines of the lot on which such gases, vapors or particulates originate.
(3) 
No radioactive vapors or gases shall be emitted from the facility in amounts which are harmful.
(4) 
No odors causing annoyance or discomfort to the public shall be detectable beyond the lot lines of the lot on which such odors originate.
(5) 
The emission of any smoke at a density greater than No. 1 on the Ringelmann Smoke Chart as published by the United States Bureau of Mines shall not be permitted, except that smoke of a density of No. 2 may be emitted for not more than four minutes in any thirty-minute period. This standard shall not be applied to emissions where the presence of uncombined water is the only reason for the failure of the emission to meet the opacity limits. (Uncombined water produces a white "smoke" which vanishes a short distance from the stack.)
B. 
Wastewater management.
(1) 
Effluent must meet standards set by the PA DEP.
(2) 
In no case shall potentially dangerous effluent from plant operations be discharged.
C. 
Solid waste management.
(1) 
No permanent storage of waste material on the lot shall be permitted. All waste materials awaiting transport shall be concealed from view from all adjacent properties.
D. 
Noise and vibration.
(1) 
Unless otherwise stipulated elsewhere in this Part 1, noise limits at lot lines shall be as follows:
Permissible Noise Limits
Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
(dBA)
Between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
(dBA)
At lot line adjacent to land zoned residential or preservation
90% of time must be less than:
60
70
Maximum:
70
80
At lot line adjacent to land zoned industrial or commercial
90% of the time must be less than:
65
75
Maximum:
75
85
(2) 
No physical vibration perceptible without use of instrument shall be permitted at or beyond the lot lines.
E. 
Visual.
(1) 
No lighting shall be utilized in a manner which produces glare perceptible at or beyond the lot lines.
(2) 
Any operation producing heat shall be conducted in such a manner as to prevent any effect from the heat beyond the lot lines of the lot on which the operation is located.
F. 
Electromagnetic. No electromagnetic radiation shall be radiated that does not comply with the regulation of the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) or which interferes with radio or television reception or the operation of the other equipment.
G. 
All regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection shall be complied with.

§ 460-97 Telecommunications facilities.

A. 
Purposes. The purposes of this section shall be as follows:
(1) 
To identify a hierarchy of areas where future telecommunication facilities can be located, while minimizing the proliferation of towers and monopoles.
(2) 
To require co-location of telecommunication facilities on existing structures and towers.
(3) 
To attempt to ensure compatibility of telecommunication facilities with nearby land uses.
(4) 
To establish siting and design criteria to mitigate negative impacts.
(5) 
To establish telecommunication signal removal policies.
(6) 
To establish a process by which an applicant can demonstrate their compliance with these policies.
(7) 
To stay abreast of changing technologies that may reduce the need for new telecommunication signal sites.
(8) 
To avoid potential damage to adjacent properties through engineering and proper siting of telecommunication facilities.
(9) 
To preserve local authority to govern and control telecommunications facilities to the fullest extent allowable by law.
B. 
Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE (ANSI)
A national organization which formulates guidelines and standards. ANSI standards are recognized as authoritative by the FCC.
ANTENNA
See "telecommunications antenna."
ANTENNA HEIGHT
See "telecommunications antenna height."
AREA
The extent of surface contained within the boundaries or extremities of land.
CO-LOCATION
The utilization of a proposed or existing structure for telecommunication antennas by more than one carrier.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
The federal government agency charged with regulating the national airways.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The transmission of words, sounds, images or data in the form of electronic or electromagnetic signals or impulses using wire, optical cable, radio, television, microwave, and satellite.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA (or ANTENNA)
Any device used for the transmission or reception of radio, television, wireless telephone, pager, commercial mobile radio service or any other wireless telecommunications signals including, without limitation, omnidirectional or whip antennas and directional or panel antennas, owned or operated by any person or entity licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate such device. This definition shall not include private residence-mounted satellite dishes or television antennas or amateur radio equipment including, without limitation, ham or citizen band radio antennas.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA HEIGHT or ANTENNA HEIGHT
The vertical distance measured from the base of the antenna support structure at grade to the highest point of the structure. If the support structure is on a sloped grade, then the average between the highest and lowest grades shall be used in calculating the antenna height.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA SUPPORT STRUCTURE (or ANTENNA STRUCTURE)
Any pole, telescoping mast, tower, tripod or any other structure which supports a device used in the transmitting or receiving of radio frequency energy.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT BUILDING
An unmanned building or cabinet containing telecommunications equipment required for the operation of telecommunications antennas and covering an area on the ground not greater 250 square feet.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY
A tract or parcel of land that contains a telecommunication antenna as the principal use, its support structure, accessory building(s), equipment cabinet, and parking, and may include other uses associated with and ancillary to telecommunication signal transmission or processing at the tract.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER HEIGHT
The vertical distance measured from the ground level to the highest point on a telecommunications tower, including antennas mounted on the tower.
C. 
Telecommunications antennas and telecommunications equipment buildings attached to existing structures. The following provisions shall apply to telecommunications antennas that are attached to an existing building, structure or telecommunications tower:
(1) 
A telecommunications antenna that is attached to a preexisting telecommunications tower, such as but not limited to smoke stacks, water towers, public utility transmission towers, telephone poles and similar existing utility structures is permitted in all zoning districts. If the antenna is to be mounted on a preexisting structure, a full site plan shall not be required; however, applicable zoning permits and certificate of use permits are required. An existing structure, building, or tower is one that physically existed prior to identification of a site for constructing a new antenna.
(2) 
Building mounted telecommunications antennas shall be permitted to exceed the height of the existing structure limitations of the applicable zoning district by no more than 25 feet.
(3) 
Building-mounted telecommunications antennas shall not be located on any single-family detached or semidetached dwellings.
(4) 
Any applicant proposing telecommunications antennas to be mounted on a building or other structure shall submit evidence from a Pennsylvania registered professional engineer certifying that the proposed installation will not exceed the structural capacity of the building or other structure, considering wind and other loads associated with the antenna location.
(5) 
Any applicant proposing telecommunications antennas to be mounted on a building or other structure shall submit detailed construction and elevation drawings indicating how the antennas will be mounted on the structure for review by the Upper Tulpehocken Township (UTT) Zoning Officer. Any applicant proposing telecommunications antennas to be mounted on a building or other structure shall submit evidence of agreements and/or easements necessary to provide access to the building or structure on which the antennas are to be mounted so that installation and maintenance of the antennas and telecommunications equipment building can be accomplished.
(6) 
Telecommunications antennas shall not cause radio frequency interference with other telecommunications services (including, but not limited to, other towers, transmitting facilities, telecommunications services reception by other property owners, etc.) in accordance with FCC requirements for the applicant's class of service.
(7) 
Telecommunications antennas shall comply with all applicable standards established by the Federal Communications Commission governing human exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
(8) 
A telecommunications equipment building shall be subject to the height and setback requirements of the applicable zoning district for an accessory structure. The telecommunications equipment building shall cover an area on the ground of not more than 250 square feet.
(9) 
The owner or operator of telecommunications antennas shall be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to operate such antennas.
(10) 
All other uses, such as business offices, maintenance depot, vehicle storage, broadcast studios and vehicle storage unless specifically necessary and ancillary to the operation of the telecommunications facility are not permitted unless otherwise permitted in the zoning district in which the telecommunication facility is located. No outside storage is permitted on the telecommunications facility.
(11) 
The applicant is required to demonstrate, using technological evidence that the telecommunications antenna must go where it is proposed in order to satisfy its functions in the company's grid system.
(12) 
Telecommunications antennas shall not be lighted unless lighting is required by the FAA, FCC, or other governmental agency which has jurisdiction over such facilities.
D. 
Standards for the construction of new telecommunications towers and telecommunications antenna. Telecommunications antennas to be attached to a new building, structure, or tower must comply with the provisions of this section, as well as those in Subsection C of this section and the special exception provisions of the Upper Tulpehocken Township Zoning Ordinance. All references to "telecommunications towers" in this section shall also be considered to refer to such other new buildings and structures.
(1) 
The construction of new telecommunication towers is allowed in the C-2, C-3, and I-1 Zoning Districts by special exception and subject to compliance with Subsection D of this section.
(2) 
Telecommunications towers with their telecommunications equipment buildings are a principal use. No other principal use is permitted on a leased lot with a tower.
(3) 
The applicant shall demonstrate that the proposed telecommunications tower and telecommunications antennas proposed to be mounted thereon comply with all applicable standards established by the Federal Communications Commission governing human exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
(4) 
Telecommunications towers shall comply with all applicable Federal Aviation Administration, Commonwealth Bureau of Aviation and applicable airport zoning regulations.
(5) 
Any applicant proposing construction of a new telecommunications tower shall demonstrate that a good faith effort has been made to obtain permission to mount the telecommunications antennas on existing buildings, structures or other telecommunication towers. These potentially suitable structures include, but may not be limited to, smokestacks, water towers, antenna support structures of other telecommunications companies, other telecommunications towers (fire, police, etc.) and public utility transmission towers. A good faith effort shall require that all owners of potentially suitable structures within a two-mile radius of the proposed telecommunications tower site be contacted and that one or more of the following reasons for not selecting such structure apply:
(a) 
The proposed antennas and related equipment would exceed the structural capacity of the existing structure and its reinforcement cannot be accomplished at a reasonable cost.
(b) 
The proposed antennas and related equipment would cause radio frequency interference with other existing equipment for that existing structure and the interference cannot be prevented at a reasonable cost.
(c) 
Such existing structures do not have adequate location, space, access or height to accommodate the proposed equipment or to allow it to perform its intended function.
(d) 
Addition of the proposed antennas and related equipment would result in electromagnetic radiation from such structure exceeding applicable standards established by the Federal Communications Commission governing human exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
(e) 
A commercially reasonable agreement could not be reached with the owners of such structures.
(f) 
In the event that co-location is found to be not feasible, a written statement of the reasons for the unfeasibility shall be submitted. The Township may retain a technical expert in the field to verify if co-location at the site is not feasible, or is feasible given the design configuration most accommodating to co-location. The cost for such a technical expert will be at the expense of the applicant.
(6) 
Access shall be provided to the telecommunications tower and telecommunications equipment building by means of a public street or easement to a public street. The easement shall be a minimum of 20 feet in width and shall be improved to a width of at least 10 feet with a dust-free, all-weather surface for its entire length.
(7) 
Recording of a land development plan shall be required for any lot or leased lot on which a telecommunications tower is proposed to be constructed.
(8) 
The applicant shall demonstrate that the proposed height of the telecommunications tower is the minimum height necessary to perform its function.
(9) 
In all zoning districts, the maximum height of any telecommunications tower shall be 200 feet.
(10) 
Setbacks from base of antenna support structure. If a new antenna support structure is constructed (as opposed to mounting the antenna on an existing structure), the minimum distances between the base of the support structure or any guy-wire anchors and any property line or right-of-way line shall be the largest of the following:
(a) 
Thirty percent of the height of the tower.
(b) 
The minimum front yard setback in the underlying zoning district.
(c) 
Forty feet.
(11) 
The base of a telecommunications tower shall be landscaped so as to screen the foundation and base and telecommunications equipment building from abutting properties. The following landscaping shall be required to: screen as much of the support structure as possible; screen the fence surrounding these support structures; screen any other ground-level features (such as a building); and in general, soften the appearance of the telecommunication facilities. The Township may permit any combination of existing vegetation, topography, walls, decorative fences or other features instead of landscaping if they achieve the same degree of screening as the required landscaping. If the antenna is mounted on an existing structure and other equipment is housed inside an existing structure, landscaping shall not be required.
(a) 
An evergreen screen shall be required to surround the site. The screen can be either a hedge (planted three feet on center maximum) or a row of evergreen trees (planted 10 feet on center maximum). The evergreen screen shall be a minimum height of six feet at planting and shall grow to a minimum of 15 feet at maturity.
(b) 
In addition, existing vegetation on and around the site shall be preserved to the greatest extent possible.
(12) 
The telecommunications equipment building shall comply with the applicable zoning regulations for a nonresidential accessory structure.
(13) 
The applicant shall submit:
(a) 
Certification from a Pennsylvania registered professional engineer that a proposed telecommunications tower will be designed and constructed in accordance with the current Structural Standards for Steel Antenna Towers and Antenna Supporting Structures published by the Electrical Industrial Association/Communications Industry Association.
(b) 
The applicant shall submit a copy of its current Federal Communications Commission license under which the telecommunication tower will operate.
(c) 
The name, address and emergency telephone number for the local person(s) responsible for operation of the telecommunications tower.
(d) 
A certificate of insurance evidencing general liability coverage in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence and property damage coverage in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence covering the telecommunications tower and telecommunications antennas.
(e) 
A statement from the FCC, FAA, and Commonwealth Bureau of Aviation stating that the proposed telecommunication tower complies with applicable regulations or is exempt from those regulations.
(14) 
All guy wires associated with guyed telecommunications towers shall be clearly marked so as to be visible at all times. Telecommunication towers under 200 feet in height shall be painted silver or have a galvanized finish retained in order to reduce the visual impact. Telecommunication towers may be painted green up to the height of nearby trees. Telecommunications antenna support structures 200 feet in height or taller shall meet all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. No telecommunication towers may be artificially lighted except when required by the FAA.
(15) 
Signs shall be limited to those needed to identify the property and the owner and warn of any danger. All signs shall comply with the requirements of the Township's Zoning Ordinance, FCC, FAA, or other governmental agency facilities.
(16) 
No signs or lights shall be mounted on a telecommunications tower, except as may be required by the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Aviation Administration or other governmental agency which has jurisdiction over such facilities. Lighting of equipment structures and any other facilities on site shall be shielded from abutting properties. There shall be total cutoff of all light at the property lines of the parcel to be developed, and footcandle measurements at the property line shall be 0.0 initial footcandle when measured at grade.
(17) 
Telecommunications towers shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with any requirements imposed by the UTT Zoning Hearing Board.
(18) 
An applicant or its successors shall remove all unused structures and facilities from a telecommunication facilities, including towers and monopoles, within 90 days of cessation of telecommunication use or the expiration of the ground lease, whichever occurs first, and the site should be restored as closely as possible to its original condition. A bond or other suitable financial surety to cover the costs of dismantling the communications tower shall be provided by the applicant, in a form reviewed and approved by the Township Solicitor, to the Township prior to the filing of an application with the Township Zoning Hearing Board for a special exception. A certified letter shall be sent to the Township each year, due by January 15, signed by an officer of the company owning the tower, stating the intention to continue operation. Failure to receive this letter shall be considered the beginning of the ninety-day cessation period.
(19) 
At least one off-street parking space shall be provided within the fenced area. If the telecommunication facility is fully automated, adequate parking shall be required for maintenance workers. If the facility is not automated, the number of required parking spaces shall equal the number or people on the largest shift.
(20) 
A land development plan shall be required for all telecommunications facilities showing the antenna, antenna support structure(s), equipment buildings(s), fencing, vegetative screening, access drive(s) and all other pertinent information required by the Chapter 400, Subdivision and Land Development, Part 1, Upper Tulpehocken Subdivision and Land Development Regulations. The land development plan shall not be required if the antenna is to be mounted on an existing structure.
(21) 
The site of a telecommunications tower, including all structures, guy wires, and guy wire anchors on the site shall be required to be fenced. The fence shall be a minimum of six feet in height and a maximum of eight feet in height, shall completely enclose the antenna, support structure, and related facilities, shall not contain openings greater than nine square inches and shall contain, at all entrances, gates which shall be locked except during such times as the site is manned by authorized operations and maintenance personnel, and shall also conform to the provisions of § 460-89 of this Part 1. The fence shall be a minimum of 10 feet from any structure inside it.
(22) 
The applicant shall demonstrate, by expert witness testimony and in reports to the satisfaction of the Township Zoning Hearing Board, that the proposed telecommunications antenna and telecommunication tower are safe and the surrounding areas will not be negatively affected by support structure failure, falling ice or other debris, electromagnetic fields or radio frequency interference. All telecommunication towers shall be fitted with anti-climbing devices as approved by the manufacturers of such devices.
E. 
Antenna/equipment replacements. Replacements of existing antennas or existing equipment such as electrical cabinets are permitted to be replaced in all zoning districts, subject to:
(1) 
Submission of a zoning permit for the antenna/equipment replacement.
(2) 
Provide a report from a structural engineer licensed in the State of Pennsylvania on the structural adequacy of the existing cell tower to accommodate the added weight and wind load.
(3) 
Submission of a plan set and other information as appropriate to show the proposed replacement work.
(4) 
The replacement antenna array(s) comply with all applicable FCC and FAA regulations.
(5) 
The replacement array(s) comply with all applicable building codes.
F. 
New antenna co-location. Location of a new antenna array on an existing cell tower is encouraged over the construction of a new tower location. Collocation of new antennas on existing towers is permitted in all zoning districts, subject to:
(1) 
Submission of a zoning permit for the antenna collocation.
(2) 
Submission of a plan set and other information as appropriate to show the proposed collocation work.
(3) 
Provide a report from a structural engineer licensed in the State of Pennsylvania on the structural adequacy of the existing cell tower to accommodate the added weight and wind load of the new antenna array.
(4) 
The height of the existing tower may be increased for a new collocation by 10% of existing tower height to a maximum of an additional 20 feet as long as the overall height is within the maximum height set for new towers in this chapter and that no prior increase in the height of the support structure or antenna array, beyond that initially permitted or approved has occurred. If a height increase is proposed in excess of the maximum height, that applicant will need to secure a variance from the Zoning Hearing Board. Any variance granted for increased cell tower height will also have to address the required safe fall zone as required by this chapter.
(5) 
The zoning application for a new collocation antenna will be approved within 90 days of submittal of a completed application. Should a zoning variance be required due to a height conflict, the ninety-day review period will not start until the required zoning approval has been secured and the application is then deemed to be complete.
(6) 
The new co-location antenna array complies with all applicable FCC and FAA regulations.
(7) 
The new co-location antenna array complies with all applicable building codes.

§ 460-98 General Agricultural Standards for the R-1, R-2, R-P, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, and W-P Zoning Districts.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A. 
It is the intent of these requirements that agricultural activities in the R-1, R-2, R-P, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, and W-P Zoning Districts be regulated for the purpose of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare.
B. 
Unless otherwise stipulated within this Part 1, general agricultural activities/uses as described below are permitted by right in the R-1, R-2, R-P, C-1, C-2, C-3 and I-1 Zoning District, and permitted by special exception in the W-P Zoning District, subject to the requirements of this § 460-98. Intensive agricultural activities are allowed only within the EAP Zoning District on lands of 25 acres or more and are regulated by § 460-32 of this Part 1.
C. 
Processing of farm products, where such use is accessory to the raising or growing of such products and is located on the property on which the products are grown or raised is permitted by right, provided such use does not include intensive agricultural activities.
D. 
The display and sale of farm products shall be permitted, provided that at least 50% of the quantity of products for sale have been produced on the property on which they are offered for sale. The sale of farm products shall be conducted in a farm stand which shall not exceed 1,000 square feet or 12 feet in building height and which shall not be located closer than 30 feet from the applicable street right-of-way. In addition, all off-street parking and access driveways shall be designed in accordance with Article XIV, §§ 460-80D and 460-85, of this Part 1. The farm stand, parking area, and driveway will require a Township zoning permit and/or driveway permit (and/or PennDOT permits if adjacent to a state road) and any other permits required by county, state, or federal entities.
E. 
Signs displaying information for the sale of farm products in farm stands are limited to one freestanding sign which shall not exceed 15 square feet in total area and shall be regulated as per § 460-83 of this Part 1.
F. 
Certain small domestic animal operations (excluding mink, which is an intensive agricultural activity) are permitted by right, provided the following conditions are met (for purposes of this subsection, small domestic animals shall include animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchilla; and fowl such as chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and pigeons):
(1) 
The area within which small domestic animals are kept shall be enclosed by a fence designed for containment.
(2) 
The area within which small domestic animals are maintained shall be kept in a suitable grass cover and shall not be allowed to degrade to an erodible condition.
(3) 
The owner of the small domestic animals shall exercise suitable control over the animals and shall not allow a nuisance condition to be created in terms of excessive noise, dirt, or odor.
(4) 
Buildings housing small domestic animals shall be subject to the yard requirements of § 460-27, but in no case closer than 50 feet to the nearest dwelling other than that of the owner.
G. 
Certain large domestic animal operations shall be permitted by right, provided these operations are not "intensive agriculture" as defined by § 460-32 of this Part 1. For purposes of this subsection, "large domestic animals" shall include, but are not limited to, those of the bovine, equine, swine, and sheep families. Large domestic animal facilities, where so permitted, shall meet the following conditions:
(1) 
The area within which large domestic animals are kept shall be enclosed by a fence designed for containment.
(2) 
All buildings, corrals or stables must meet the setback requirements of this Part 1. In addition no building, corral or stable shall be closer than 100 feet to the nearest dwelling other than that of the owner.
(3) 
The area within which large domestic animals are maintained shall be kept in a suitable grass cover of at least two acres in area and shall not be allowed to degrade to an erodible condition.
(4) 
The owner of the large domestic animals shall exercise suitable control over the animals and shall not allow a nuisance condition to be created in terms of excessive noise, dirt, or odor.
H. 
Large and small domestic animal operations are permitted in accordance with the following table. Standard animal weights to calculate animal units are within § 460-100 of this Part 1:
Number of Acres*
Animal Units Per Acre
(1 Animal Unit = 1,000 pounds)
More than 1 but less than 4
0.125 (125 pounds per acre)
4 but less than 10
0.5 (500 pounds per acre)
10 but less than 25
1.0 (1,000 pounds per acre)
More than 25
2.0 (2,000 pounds per acre)
NOTES:
*
Acres referenced reflect only those lands suitable for the application of manure.
I. 
Any combination of large and/or small domestic operations except as noted below are permitted, but in no instance shall any combination exceed the animal units/acre in the chart in Subsection H above. {E.g,. A tract of five acres can have a combination of large and/or small animals which does not exceed 2,500 pounds [5 (acres) times 500 (pounds) = 2,500 pounds]; a tract of 10 acres can have a combination which does not exceed 10,000 pounds [10 acres times 1,000 (pounds) = 10,000 pounds.} The animal units/acre are permitted if all other criteria of this section are met.
J. 
Any concentration of swine equal to or greater than 1,000 pounds per acre and mink farms shall be construed as an intensive agricultural activity and are not permitted in the R-1, R-2, R-P, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, and W-P Zoning Districts.
K. 
All large and small domestic animal operations are subject to § 460-92, Floodway controls; all other sections of this Part 1 as applicable; the requirements set forth in Chapter 210, Floodplain Management; any and all ordinances adopted by the Township; and all county, state, and federal regulations as they apply to these operations.
L. 
All areas utilized for grazing purposes shall be completely fenced in and shall be placed no closer to any street line than the residential dwelling on the lot.
M. 
No slaughter area, spent mushroom compost storage area, manure storage area, or structure designed or designated for the raising of pigs shall be established closer than on 100 feet to any lot line.
N. 
Any building erected for agricultural uses in the R-1, R-2, R-P, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, and W-P Zoning Districts are regulated as follows:
(1) 
Any building erected for agricultural use on the same lot as a single-family dwelling use (and no other), does not need to meet the requirements of § 460-76 of this Part 1.
(2) 
All buildings must meet Subsections F(4) and G(2) if applicable.
(3) 
In addition to Subsections D and N(2), any building erected for agricultural uses in the R-1, R-2, R-P, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, and W-P Zoning Districts must meet all area, yard and height requirements of the respective zoning districts in which the building is located in addition to any other area, yard, and height requirements within this section.
O. 
A fly and odor abatement plan shall be developed and submitted to the Township for review and approval. The Township will forward a copy to the Penn State co-op extension or an equivalent agency for its review and comments. Recognition will be given that certain agricultural activities will produce odors, but the applicant shall show that odors can be reduced to a minimum or abated. The plan of the applicant shall show that such steps as may be necessary to abate odors or to allow odors at times that there would be minimal interference with neighbors will be taken.
P. 
Animal manure storage facilities planning, design, construction, and operation shall be in accordance with PA DEP approved manure management practices as described in the publication entitled "Manure Management for Environmental Protection" and addenda or amendments thereto prepared by PA DEP; "The Pennsylvania Technical, Guide" and addenda or amendments thereto; Pennsylvania Code, Title 25, Chapter 83, Section 83.351, Minimum standards for the design, construction, location, operation, maintenance and removal from service of manure storage facilities when applicable; and Pennsylvania Code, Title 25, Chapter 91, Section 91.36, Pollution control and prevention at agricultural operations.

§ 460-99 General agricultural standards for EAP Zoning District.

A. 
It is the intent of these requirements that agricultural activities in the EAP Zoning District be regulated for the purpose of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare.
B. 
Unless otherwise stipulated within this Part 1, general agricultural activities/uses as described below are permitted by right in the EAP Zoning District. Intensive agricultural activities are allowed only within the EAP Zoning District on lands of 25 acres or more and are regulated by § 460-32 of this Part 1.
C. 
Processing of farm products, where such use is accessory to the raising or growing of such products and is located on the property on which the products are grown or raised is permitted by right, provided such use does not include intensive agricultural activities.
D. 
The display and sale of farm products shall be permitted provided that at least 50% of the quantity of products for sale have been produced on the property on which they are offered for sale. The sale of farm products shall be conducted in a farm stand which shall not exceed 1,000 square feet or 12 feet in building height and which shall not be located closer than 30 feet from the applicable street right-of-way. In addition, all off-street parking and access driveways shall be designed in accordance with Article XIV, §§ 460-80D and 460-85, of this Part 1. The farm stand, parking area, and driveway will require a Township zoning permit and/or driveway permit (and/or PennDOT permits if adjacent to a state road) and any other permits required by county, state, or federal entities.
E. 
Signs displaying information for the sale of farm products in farm stands are limited to one freestanding sign which shall not exceed 15 square feet in total area and shall be regulated as per § 460-83 of this Part 1 of Chapter 460, Zoning.
F. 
Certain small domestic animal operations (excluding mink, which is an intensive agricultural activity) are permitted by right, provided the following conditions are met (for purposes of this subsection, small domestic animals shall include animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchilla; and fowl such as chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and pigeons):
(1) 
The area within which small domestic animals are kept shall be enclosed by a fence designed for containment.
(2) 
The area within which small domestic animals are maintained shall be kept in a suitable grass cover and shall not be allowed to degrade to an erodible condition.
(3) 
The owner of the small domestic animals shall exercise suitable control over the animals and shall not allow a nuisance condition to be created in terms of excessive noise, dirt, or odor.
(4) 
Buildings housing small domestic animals shall be subject to the yard requirements of § 460-27, but in no case closer than 50 feet to the nearest dwelling other than that of the owner.
G. 
Certain large domestic animal operations shall be permitted by right, provided these operations are not "intensive agriculture" as defined by § 460-32 of this Part 1. For purposes of this subsection, "large domestic animals" shall include, but are not limited to, those of the bovine, equine, swine, and sheep families. Large domestic animal facilities, where so permitted, shall meet the following conditions:
(1) 
The area within which large domestic animals are kept shall be enclosed by a fence designed for containment.
(2) 
All buildings, corrals or stables must meet the setback requirements of this Part 1. In addition, no building, corral, or stable shall be closer than 100 feet to the nearest dwelling other than that of the owner.
(3) 
The area within which large domestic animals are maintained shall be kept in a suitable grass cover of at least two acres in area and shall not be allowed to degrade to an erodible condition.
(4) 
The owner of the large domestic animals shall exercise suitable control over the animals and shall not allow a nuisance condition to be created in terms of excessive noise, dirt, or odor.
H. 
Large and small domestic animal operations as described in § 460-98 of this Part 1 are permitted in accordance with the following table. Standard animal weights to calculate animal units are within § 460-100 of this Part 1.
Number of Acres*
Animal Units Per Acre**
(1 animal unit = 1,000 pounds)
More than 1 and up to and including 5
0.5 (500 pounds per acre)
More than 5
2.0 (2,000 pounds per acre)
NOTES:
*
Acres referenced reflect only those lands suitable for the application of manure.
**
Any concentration of animal units of two or greater per acre shall be considered an intensive agricultural use and shall be limited to those lands of more than 25 acres in the EAP Zoning District and are subject to § 460-32 of this Part 1.
I. 
Any combination of large and small domestic operations are permitted, but in no instance shall any combination exceed the animal units per acre in the chart in Subsection H above. {E.g., A tract of five acres can have combination of large and/or small animals which does not exceed 2,500 pounds [5 (acres) times 500 (pounds) = 2,500 pounds]. A tract of 10 acres can have a combination which does not exceed 20,000 pounds [10 acres times 2,000 (pounds) = 20,000 pounds}. The animal units per acre as stated above are permitted only if all other criteria of this section are met.
J. 
Any concentration of swine equal to or greater than 1,000 pounds per acre and mink farms shall be considered an intensive agricultural use and shall be limited to those lands of more than 25 acres in the EAP Zoning District and is subject to § 460-32 of this Part 1.
K. 
Large and small domestic animal operations are subject to § 460-92, Floodway controls; all other sections of this Part 1 as applicable; the requirements set forth in Upper Tulpehocken Township Ordinance No. 9 of 1997;[1] any and all ordinances adopted by the Township; and all country, state, and federal regulations as they apply to these operations.
[1]
Editor's Note: See now Ch. 210, Floodplain Management, of the Code of the Township of Upper Tulpehocken.
L. 
Any building erected for agricultural uses in the EAP Zoning District are regulated as follows:
(1) 
Except for farm-related businesses, any building erected for agriculture use on the same lot as a single-family dwelling use (and no other), does not need to meet the requirements of § 460-76 of this Part 1.
(2) 
In addition to buildings regulated by § 460-99D, F(4) and G(2), any building erected for agricultural uses in the EAP Zoning District must meet all the area, yard and height requirements of the EAP Zoning District in addition to any other area, yard, and height requirements within § 460-99.
M. 
No slaughter area, spent mushroom compost storage area, manure storage area, or structure designed or designated for the raising of pigs shall be established closer than 100 feet to any lot line.
N. 
A fly and odor abatement plan shall be developed and submitted to the Township for review and approval. The Township will forward a copy to the Penn State co-op extension or an equivalent agency for its review and comments. Recognition will be given that certain agricultural activities will produce odors, but the applicant shall show that odors can be reduced to a minimum or abated. The plan of the applicant shall show that such steps as may be necessary to abate odors or to allow odors at times that there would be minimal interference with neighbors will be taken.
O. 
Animal manure storage facilities planning, design, construction, and operation shall be in accordance with PA DEP approved manure management practices as described in the publication entitled "Manure Management for Environmental Protection" and addenda or amendments thereto prepared by PA DEP; "The Pennsylvania Technical Guide" and addenda or amendments thereto; Pennsylvania Code, Title 25, Chapter 83, Section 83.351, Minimum standards for the design, construction, location, operation, maintenance and removal from service of manure storage facilities, when applicable; and Pennsylvania Code, Title 25, Chapter 91, Section 91.36, Pollution control and prevention at agricultural operations.

§ 460-100 Standard animal weights to calculate animal units.

Standard animal weights are calculated as follows:
Type of Animal
Standard Weight (pounds)
During Production (range)
Swine
Nursery pig
30 (15 to 45)
Finishing pig
145 (45 to 245)
Gestating sow
400
Sow and litter
470
Boar
450
Beef
Calf: 0 to 8 months
300 (100 to 500)
Finishing: 8 to 24 months
850 (500 to 1,200)
Cow
1,150
Veal
Calf: 0 to 16 weeks
250 (100 to 400)
Poultry
Layer: 18 to 65 weeks
3.25 (2.75 to 3.76)
Layer: 18 to 105 weeks
3.48 weighted average
Layer, brown egg: 20 to 65 weeks
4.3 (3.6 to 5)
Layer, brown egg: 20 to 105 weeks
4.63 weighted average
Pullet: 0 to 18 weeks
1.42 (0.08 to 2.75)
Broiler, large, 0 to 57 days
3.0 (0.09 to 5.9)
Broiler, medium, 0 to 43 days
2.3 (0.090 to 4.5)
Roaster
Male, 0 to 8 weeks
3.54 (0.09 to 7)
Female, 0 to 10 weeks
3.54 (0.09 to 7)
Turkey, tom 0 to 18 weeks
14.1 (0.12 to 28)
Turkey, hen 0 to 14 weeks
7.1 (0.12 to 14)
Duck: 0 to 43 days
3.56 (0.11 to 7)
Guinea: 0 to 14 to 24 weeks
1.9 (0.6 to 3.75)
Pheasant: 0 to 13 to 43 weeks
1.53 (0.05 to 3)
Chukar: 0 to 13 to 43 weeks
0.52 (0.04 to 1)
Quail: 0 to 13 to 43 weeks
0.26 (0.02 to 0.5)
Type of Animal
Standard Weight (pounds)
During Production (range)
Dairy
Holstein/Brown Swiss
Cow
1,300
Heifer: 1 to 2 years
900 (650 to 1,150)
Calf: 0 to 1 years
375 (100 to 650)
Bull
1,500
Ayrshire/Guernsey
Cow
1,100
Heifer: 1 to 2 years
800 (575 to 1,025)
Calf: 0 to 1 years
338 (100 to 575)
Bull
1,250
Jersey
Cow
900
Heifer: 1 to 2 years
600 (400 to 800)
Calf: 0 to 1 years
225 (50 to 400)
Bull
1,000
Sheep
Lamb: 0 to 26 weeks
50 (10 to 90)
Ewe
150
Ram
170
Goat
Kid: 0 to 10 months
45 (5 to 85)
Doe
125
Buck
170
Horse
Foal: 0 to 6 months
325 (125 to 625)
Yearling
750 (625 to 875)
Nondraft breeds: mature
1,000
Draft breeds: mature
1,700

§ 460-101 Forestry regulations.

[Added 4-11-2017 by Ord. No. 7-2017]
A. 
Purpose. In order to conserve forested open space and the environmental and economic benefits it provides, it is the policy of Upper Tulpehocken Township to encourage the owners of forest land to continue to use their land for forestry purposes, including the long term production of timber, recreation, wildlife, and amenity values. The forestry regulations contained herein are intended to further this policy by: promoting good forest stewardship; protecting the rights of adjoining property owners; minimizing the potential for adverse environmental impacts; and avoiding unreasonable and unnecessary restrictions on the right to practice forestry. Forestry, as defined in § 460-6, shall be permitted in any zoning district in the Township as a use permitted by right, subject to the regulations contained in this section, and to applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
B. 
Applicability. All forestry, as defined in § 460-6, shall be conducted in compliance with the regulations set forth herein, and in compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The following activities shall not be considered subject to the requirements of this Part 1, although other laws, regulations and ordinances may apply:
(1) 
Clearing for a single-family residential dwelling.
(2) 
Clearing for farming operations.
(3) 
The cutting of diseased trees.
(4) 
Property owner cutting on owner's own property, for personal, family, or household use.
(5) 
Noncommercial timber stand improvements.
(6) 
Clearing pursuant to a land development plan approved by the Township.
(7) 
Cutting of trees for precommercial timber stand improvements.
(8) 
Timber harvesting operations proposed on any property resulting in an earth disturbance of less than 5,000 square feet.
C. 
Zoning permit. For any forestry activities subject to the requirements of this section, a zoning permit from the Township will be required. Said zoning permit shall not be issued until the applicant has obtained Berks County Conservation District approval for a timber harvesting operation and has presented the approved plan to the Township.
D. 
Notification of commencement and expected completion of timber harvesting. for all timber harvesting operations that are expected to disturb 5,000 square feet of earth or more, the landowner shall notify the Township Zoning Officer at least 10 business days before the operation commences and within five business days before the operation is complete. No timber harvesting shall occur until the notice has been provided. Notification shall be in writing, and shall specify the land on which the timber harvesting will occur, the expected size of the harvest area, and, as applicable, the anticipated starting and completion date of the operation.
E. 
Logging plan. Every landowner on whose land timber harvesting is to occur shall prepare a written logging plan in the form specified by the Berks County Conservation District, and as set forth below, in addition to the requirements for a zoning permit and other applicable requirements. The logging plan shall comply with the following:
(1) 
Logging plan requirements. Every landowner on whose land timber harvesting is to occur shall obtain a zoning permit. The applicant shall prepare and submit a written logging plan in the form specified below. No timber harvesting shall occur until a zoning permit has been issued.
(a) 
Minimum requirements. At a minimum, the logging plan shall include the following:
[1] 
Design, construction, maintenance, and retirement of the access system, including haul roads, skid roads, skid trails, and landings;
[2] 
Design, construction, and maintenance of water control measures and structures, such as culverts, broad-based dips, filter strips and water bars;
[3] 
Design, construction, and maintenance of stream and wetland crossings; and
[4] 
The general location of the proposed operation in relation to municipal and state roads, including any accesses to those roads.
(b) 
Map. Each logging plan shall include a sketch map or drawing containing the following information:
[1] 
Site location and boundaries, including both the boundaries of the property on which the timber harvest will take place, and the boundaries of the proposed harvest area within the property;
[2] 
Significant topographic features related to potential environmental problems;
[3] 
Location of all earth disturbance activities, such as roads, landings, and water control measures and structures;
[4] 
Location of all crossings of water of the commonwealth; and
[5] 
The general location of the proposed operation to municipal and state roads, including any accesses to those roads.
(c) 
Compliance with state law. The logging plan shall show how it will comply with the requirements of all applicable state regulations, including, but not limited to, the following:
[1] 
Erosion and sedimentation control regulations contained in Title 25, Pennsylvania Code, Chapter 102, promulgated pursuant to the Clean Streams Law;[1] and
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq.
[2] 
Stream crossing and wetlands protection regulations contained in Title 25, Pennsylvania Code, Chapter 102, promulgated pursuant to the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See 32 P.S. § 693.1 et seq.
F. 
Required forest practices. The following requirements shall apply to all timber harvesting operations:
(1) 
Felling or skidding on, or across, any public road is prohibited without the express written consent of the Township, or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, whichever is responsible for maintenance of the thoroughfare;
(2) 
No tree tops or slash shall be left within 25 feet of any public road, or private roadway providing access to adjoining residential property;
(3) 
All tree tops or slash shall be between 25 feet and 50 feet from a public roadway, or private roadway providing access to adjoining residential property, or within 50 feet of adjoining residential property, shall be lopped to a maximum height of four feet above the ground;
(4) 
No tree tops or slash shall be left on or across the boundary of any property adjoining the operation without the consent of the owner thereof; and
(5) 
Litter resulting from a timber harvesting operation shall be removed from the site before it is vacated by the operator.
G. 
Enforcement.
(1) 
Township Zoning Officer. The Zoning Officer shall be the enforcement officer for this section regarding forestry.
(2) 
Inspections. The Zoning Officer may go upon the site of any timber harvesting operating before, during, or after active logging to review the logging plan or any other required documents for compliance with this section, inspect the operation for compliance with the logging plan, and other on-site requirements of these regulations.
(3) 
Violation notices; suspensions. Upon finding that a timber harvesting operation is in violation of any provision of this section or the logging plan, Zoning Officer shall issue the operator and the landowner a written notice of violation describing each violation and specifying a date by which corrective action must be taken. Zoning Officer may order the immediate suspension of any operation upon finding that: corrective action has not been taken by the date specified in a notice of violation; the operation is proceeding without logging plan; or the operation is causing immediate harm to the environment. Suspension orders shall be in writing, shall be issued to the operator and the landowner, and shall remain in effect until, as determined by Zoning Officer, the operation is brought into compliance with this section or other applicable statutes or regulations. The landowner or the operator may appeal an order or decision of an enforcement officer within 30 days of issuance to the Zoning Hearing Board of the Township. The provisions of this section are in addition to all enforcement remedies available under the Township Zoning Ordinance, and the penalties for violations herein shall be as set forth in § 460-115 of this Part 1.

§ 460-101.1 Solar energy systems and facilities.

[Added 6-14-2022 by Ord. No. 1-2022]
A. 
Definitions. The following terms will have the following definitions for purposes of this § 460-101.1:
ACCESSORY SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM(S) (ASES)
An alternative energy system consisting of one or more ground-mounted, principal-building-mounted, or accessory-building-mounted solar collection devices and solar energy related equipment to generate electricity or otherwise convert solar energy into a different form of energy for the primary purpose of reducing on-site consumption of purchased power.
PRINCIPAL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM(S) (PSES)
An alternative energy system consisting of ground-mounted solar collection devices and solar energy related equipment to generate electricity or otherwise convert solar energy into a different form of energy for the primary purpose of using the energy for commercial or other off-site use.
B. 
Accessory solar energy system(s).
(1) 
The placement of all features and system components constituting the ASES shall comply with the principal building setback, height, lot coverage, and other bulk requirements of the applicable underlying zoning district.
(2) 
ASES roof-mounted systems shall not extend beyond the roof edge in any direction nor above the ridgeline of any sloped roof to which the system is attached.
(3) 
ASES ground-mounted systems shall not exceed 12 feet in height.
(4) 
The maximum permitted area, which is the combined surface area of all individual solar panels constituting the ASES, shall not exceed 1,000 square feet.
(5) 
All utilities, lines, cables, wires and other connections of, to or from the ASES and any related structure shall be at or below grade.
(6) 
The ASES shall be installed in compliance with all applicable building and construction code requirements.
(7) 
ASES ground-mounted systems shall be deemed impervious cover requiring stormwater management design pursuant to the Upper Tulpehocken Township Stormwater Management Ordinance.[1] The landowner must maintain the stormwater management feature(s) in good working order so long as the system is installed.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 388, Stormwater Management.
(8) 
The actual surface area of all individual panels shall be considered in determining the amount of additional lot coverage the system creates.
(9) 
If required by the Code Official, the applicant shall supply one year's worth of electrical consumption records for the subject property to serve as a benchmark for the anticipated amount of electrical energy proposed to be generated.
(10) 
ASES(s) shall be a use permitted by right in all zoning districts in the Township and in the Village of Strausstown, provided that they meet all regulations set forth herein.
(11) 
The design, installation, and operation of ASES shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including but not limited to building, construction, fire and life safety requirements, and conform to the applicable industry standards, including those of the American National Standards (ANSI), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and other similar certifying organizations.
C. 
Principal solar energy system(s) (PSES).
(1) 
Within the I-1 General Industrial Zoning District and within the C-2 General Commercial Zoning District, a PSES shall be a use permitted by special exception, subject to the standards set forth in this section.
(2) 
The placement of all features and system components constituting the PSES shall comply with the setback and maximum lot coverage requirements of the aforementioned district.
(3) 
If the PSES is upon a lot that adjoins another lot with an existing residential use, then all features and system components shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from that shared boundary line.
(4) 
The minimum lot size for placement of a PSES shall be 20 acres.
(5) 
Within the C-2 Zoning District, the placement of all features and system components constituting the PSES shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from all property lines and street right-of-way lines. Within the aforementioned district, the maximum lot coverage of the PSES shall not exceed 65%.
(6) 
All PSES features and system components that are impervious, including but not limited to panels and their actual surface area, buildings, roads, etc., shall be considered in the lot coverage determination.
(7) 
PSES ground-mounted systems shall not exceed 12 feet in height. Buildings constituting or relating to the PSES shall comply with the underlying zoning district requirements for maximum building height.
(8) 
The lot with the PSES may also have a single-family dwelling, which will be considered an accessory use.
(9) 
The PSES shall be enclosed with an eight-foot-tall, chain-link fence having self-locking gates.
(10) 
As referenced in Subsection C(6), the actual surface area of all panels shall be considered impervious and require stormwater management design complying with the Upper Tulpehocken Township Stormwater Management Ordinance.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 388, Stormwater Management.
(11) 
Landscape screening shall include a minimum of two rows of native, green evergreen trees at least eight feet in height at the time of planting, planted 15 feet on center and staggered, and shall be installed as follows:
(a) 
Within the I-1 Zoning District, along all of the property lines of the lot where the PSES is situated that abut or is across from an existing residential use; or
(b) 
Within the C-2 Zoning District, along all of the property lines of the lot where the PSES is situated.
(12) 
Other design, installation and operation regulations.
(a) 
The design, installation, and operation of PSES shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including but not limited to building, construction, fire and life safety requirements, and conform to the applicable industry standards, including those of the American National Standards (ANSI), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and other similar certifying organizations;
(b) 
The PSES shall have conspicuously and clearly labeled warnings about voltage and other important electrical safety information upon all features and components;
(c) 
The panels shall be positioned to prevent glare upon all neighboring properties, public streets, and private streets;
(d) 
The panels shall be positioned to prevent additional heat load upon all neighboring properties;
(e) 
PSES ground-mounted systems shall not have concrete footings;
(f) 
The PSES shall not be located on soils designated as prime agricultural soils as determined by the current soil survey of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Floodplain Area(s) as defined in the Upper Tulpehocken Township Floodplain Ordinance,[3] wetlands, or slopes exceeding 25%;
[3]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 210, Floodplain Management.
(g) 
Clear cutting of wooded areas for placement of the PSES shall not be permitted; and
(h) 
System components of the PSES shall be located on land, in descending order of desirability based upon the soil type classifications D, C, B, and A.
(13) 
Submission requirements. The applicant proposing to erect a PSES shall submit to the Township:
(a) 
A land development plan conforming with the requirements of the Upper Tulpehocken Township SALDO,[4] which plan must be approved by the Township;
[4]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 400, Subdivision and Land Development.
(b) 
A project summary describing the overview of the project, which shall include: the proposed PSES and ancillary facilities; its approximate generating capacity, proposed location, and the location of any new electrical line(s) to and from such system and their off-site connection point(s) to the electrical grid; and the approximate number of panels to be installed, their representative type, height/extent or range of heights/extent, generating capacity, dimensions, and manufacturer(s);
(c) 
A glare analysis report prepared and sealed by an engineer licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which shows that glare will not be projected onto any public street or any building on a property, other than the property where the PSES is located, as a result of its installation;
(d) 
Documents related to decommissioning, as more fully described hereinbelow, including but not limited to executed agreement(s), such as a participating landowner agreement between the Township and PSES owner, operator, and/or landowner requiring such owner, operator, and/or landowner to obtain and post financial security for decommissioning as described hereinbelow; and
(e) 
Other relevant studies, reports, certifications, approvals, and agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Board of Supervisors to ensure compliance with this section, including but not limited to: an interconnection agreement to evidence approval by an electrical utility or other entity receiving the generated energy from the PSES; an operations agreement to set forth operations and management parameters and policies, require continually updated/submitted contact information for the PSES owner/operator, and mandate inspection protocol and emergency procedures; a construction/deconstruction mitigation plan with a traffic study for those periods of construction and deconstruction along with a schedule for when such activities are proposed to occur; and/or a scenic viewshed mitigation plan.
(14) 
Certifications and inspections.
(a) 
National and state standards. The applicant shall show that all applicable manufacturer's, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and United States standards for the construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed PSES have been met, including, without limitation, back feed prevention and lightning grounding. The PSES shall be built, operated and maintained to the applicable industry standards of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The applicant for a PSES shall furnish evidence, over the signature of a professional engineer licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, that such PSES complies with all above standards;
(b) 
An annual inspection report prepared by an independent professional engineer licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall be obtained by the PSES owner/operator and submitted to the Township not later than 30 days after each anniversary of the date on which the Township certified the PSES ready for operation. The inspection report shall certify the structural soundness and proper operation of the PSES; and
(c) 
No PSES shall commence operation until the Township has certified in writing that the conditions of this section have been satisfied and the PSES has been constructed and installed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.
(15) 
Local emergency services. The applicant shall provide a copy of the land development plan and project summary to the local fire companies and the Township's fire safety consultant for their review and comment. Comments and recommendations from the above individuals and/or entities shall be addressed by the applicant to the satisfaction of the Township in subsequent plan revisions. Upon the Township's request, the applicant shall cooperate with emergency services to develop and coordinate implementation of an emergency response plan for the PSES.
(16) 
Decommissioning.
(a) 
The PSES owner and operator shall, at its expense, complete decommissioning of the PSES within six months after the end of its useful life or the useful life of the panel(s), whichever comes first. The PSES and panels are presumed no longer useful when either fails to generate electricity for a continuous period of six months;
(b) 
Decommissioning shall include removal of all panels, buildings, cabling, electrical components, foundations, and any other associated features, facilities, or related components in their entirety whether above, equal to or below ground. Stormwater facilities and healthy landscaping shall remain undisturbed;
(c) 
Disturbed earth shall be graded and re-seeded unless the landowner requests in writing that the access roads or other land surface areas not be restored;
(d) 
An independent, certified professional engineer licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall be retained to estimate the total cost of decommissioning (the "decommissioning costs") without regard to salvage value of the equipment, and the cost of decommissioning net salvage value of the equipment (the "net decommissioning costs"). Said estimates shall be submitted to the Township prior to final approval of the land development plan, and after the first year of operation and every fifth year thereafter;
(e) 
The PSES owner or operator shall post and maintain financial security for decommissioning in an amount equal to net decommissioning costs (the "financial security for decommissioning") before or contemporaneous with the Township's final approval of the land development plan. At no point thereafter shall the financial security for decommissioning be less than 25% of decommissioning costs. The funds for the financial security for decommissioning shall be posted and maintained with a bonding company, or federal- or commonwealth-chartered lending institution chosen by the PSES owner, operator, or participating landowner posting the financial security, provided that the bonding company or lending institution is authorized to conduct such business within the commonwealth and is approved by the Township;
(f) 
The financial security for decommissioning may be in the form of a performance bond, surety bond, letter of credit, corporate guarantee or other form of financial assurance as may be acceptable to the Township;
(g) 
If the PSES owner or operator fails to complete decommissioning within the prescribed period, then the landowner shall have six months to complete decommissioning;
(h) 
If neither the PSES owner or operator nor the landowner complete decommissioning within the periods prescribed herein, then the Township may take such measures as necessary to complete decommissioning through the use of the financial security for decommissioning provided by the PSES owner or operator. The entry into and submission of evidence of a participating landowner agreement to the Township shall constitute consent of the parties to the agreement, their respective heirs, successors and assigns that the Township may take such action as necessary to implement the decommissioning plan at the sole expense of the PSES owner, operator, and landowner; and
(i) 
The escrow agent shall only release the financial security for decommissioning to the PSES owner or operator when such individual(s) demonstrated, and the municipality concurs, that decommissioning has been satisfactorily completed, or upon written approval of the municipality in order to implement the decommissioning plan.