Washington Township Lehigh County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
F-C Forest Conservation District
§ 360-56 Purpose.
The purpose of the F-C Forest Conservation District is to discourage the scattering of commercial, industrial, residential, and other urban uses throughout predominantly forested areas of the Township where public services are neither presently available nor anticipated in the immediate future; to provide for the regulation of housing density in such areas; to encourage the preservation of natural and historic amenities and to otherwise create conditions conducive to carrying out the purposes of this chapter.
§ 360-57 Permitted uses.
A.
Single-family detached dwellings.
B.
Forest reserves, tree farming, production of forest products and forest industries.
C.
Parks, playgrounds, and recreation areas when owned or operated by the municipality.
D.
Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot with and customarily incidental to any of the above permitted uses and which may include a home occupation.
E.
Essential municipal services facility.
F.
The keeping of chickens, ducks, and/or other poultry, subject to the following regulations:
[Added 1-20-2014 by Ord. No. 246; amended 8-17-2020 by Ord. No. 276]
(1)
The minimum lot size of any property where chickens, ducks, and other poultry may be kept shall be two acres.
(2)
No male chickens (roosters) shall be permitted.
(3)
No more than eight total birds shall be permitted, per property.
(4)
The keeping of chickens, ducks, and other poultry shall be an accessory use on the same lot with and customarily incidental to the primary use as a residence.
(5)
All items and materials produced, including eggs, offspring, or compost containing manure, shall be solely for the use of the persons residing on the property and shall not be offered for sale or sold.
(6)
Housing for chickens, ducks, and/or other poultry:
(a)
Chickens shall be housed at all times in a chicken coop which has access to a chicken pen. During non-daylight hours, chickens shall be secured in the chicken coop.
(b)
Ducks and/or other nonchicken poultry shall be housed in such a manner as to prevent them from leaving the property.
(c)
New structures and alterations to existing accessory structures for the purpose of use as housing for chickens, ducks, and/or other poultry shall be subject to land use permit requirements as per § 360-120.
(d)
Housing for chickens, ducks, and/or other poultry (including chicken coops and chicken pens) shall be located at a minimum of 100 feet from any side or rear property line, shall not be located within any front or side yard, and shall be located a minimum of 50 feet from any residence or well.
(e)
No more than one structure for housing ducks and/or other poultry, or one chicken coop and one chicken pen, shall be kept on any property.
(7)
A manure management plan shall be provided and approved by the Franklin County Conservation District, and manure shall be removed from the housing for chickens, ducks, and/or other poultry in a timely manner and disposed of by appropriate methods, including composting.
G.
Beekeeping, subject to the following regulations:
[Added 8-17-2020 by Ord. No. 276]
(1)
The minimum lot size of any property where bees may be kept shall be two acres.
(2)
Man-made beehives shall be located at a minimum of 100 feet from any side or rear property line, shall not be located within any front or side yard, and shall be located a minimum of 50 feet from any residence. Natural beehives created by bees on the property must be removed or relocated if they do not comply with these setbacks.
§ 360-58 Conditional uses.
A.
Public utility facilities.
B.
Outdoor recreational facilities and organizations such as private playgrounds, fishing and hunting clubs, swimming clubs, golf clubs, tennis courts and similar activities, subject to the following conditions:
(1)
That such use shall occupy a lot with an area of not less than five acres.
(2)
That all lighting, which is necessary as incident to such use, shall be shielded from adjacent properties.
(3)
Along all property lines adjacent to a residential use, a one-hundred-foot-wide landscaped buffer strip shall be provided.
C.
Campgrounds, travel trailers or recreational vehicle camps, not for year-round permanent residential occupancy, subject to the following:
(1)
Any such camp or campground site shall occupy a lot area of not less than 10 acres and no building shall be erected within 100 feet of a public road or lot line.
(2)
The maximum length of any buildings shall not exceed 150 feet. Distance between buildings shall not be less than 25 feet.
(3)
There shall be a minimum of two points of ingress and egress.
(4)
All camps or campgrounds shall have a sewage disposal system and water supply system approved by the State Department of Environmental Protection.
(5)
Usable open space. All trailer camps or campgrounds shall provide not less than 20% of the total land area for usable open space purposes. This open space shall include recreation facilities for the use of all the patrons of the trailer camp or campground. Usable open space shall be so located as to be free of traffic hazards and should, where the topography permits, be centrally located and easily accessible to all campers.
(6)
Campground and camp density. The campground and camp density shall not exceed 15 campsites per acre.
(7)
Parking: a minimum of 1.5 parking spaces must be provided for each rental space.
(8)
Each campsite must provide sufficient space for the intended use, be it tent, recreation vehicle or trailer. No tent, trailer or recreation vehicle shall be closer than 30 feet to any property line, and shall be a minimum of 20 feet apart.
(9)
A minimum of one double electrical outlet supplying a minimum of 110 volts shall be provided to each campsite.
(10)
One pipe provided potable water supply, with valve controlled by campsite tenant, shall be installed at each campsite. Minimum line size is 1/2 inch.
(11)
Sanitation. If central rest room facilities are provided, one central dumping station can also be installed for those vehicles with self-contained sanitary facilities. If no central rest room facilities are provided, a connection to the sewer system must be installed at each campsite.
(12)
In camps where tents, recreation vehicles or trailers that have no self-contained sanitary facilities, the camp must provide central sanitary facilities to meet the minimum requirements set forth below:
(a)
Toilet facilities for males shall consist of not less than one flush toilet and one urinal for the first 15 additional campsites, or fractional number thereof.
(b)
Toilet facilities for females shall consist of not less than two flush toilets for the first 15 campsites and two additional flush toilets for each 10 additional campsites or fractional number thereof.
(c)
Each sex shall be provided with not less than one lavatory and one shower or bath tub with hot and cold running water, with individual dressing accommodations for the first 10 campsites or any fraction thereof. One additional lavatory and one additional shower or bath tub, with individual dressing accommodations shall be installed for each additional 10 campsites.
(d)
Each toilet and each shower or bath tub with individual dressing accommodations shall be in a private compartment or stall.
(e)
The toilet and other sanitation facilities for males and females shall either be in separate buildings or shall be separated, if in the same building, by a soundproof wall.
(13)
Laundry facilities shall be provided as follows:
(a)
One commercial grade automatic washer per each 10 campsites, and one additional washer for each 10 additional campsites or fraction thereof.
(b)
One commercial grade hot air dryer for each 10 campsites and one additional dryer for every 10 additional campsites or fraction thereof.
(c)
All washers and dryers shall be securely wired into electrical circuits in a manner not accessible to the users.
(d)
The laundry facilities shall be either in a separate building or, if in the same building where sanitation facilities are housed, shall be separated from the rest rooms by a soundproof wall.
(14)
Service buildings. Buildings housing sanitation and laundry facilities are service buildings, and as such, shall be permanent buildings, approved by the Department of Labor and Industry and complying with all applicable ordinances and statutes.
(a)
Service buildings shall be well lighted at all times of day or night, shall be well ventilated with automatic exhaust fans as necessary, and shall be maintained at a temperature of at least 65° F. during the period of October 1 to May 15. The floors shall be of a water-impervious material. All service buildings shall be maintained in a clean, sanitary condition and kept free of any condition that will menace the health of any user or constitute a nuisance.
(b)
Service buildings shall be located no closer than 30 feet to any property line, no closer than 10 feet, nor farther than 250 feet from any campsite on which a tent, camper, trailer, or motor home without toilet or bathing facilities is located.
(15)
Trash containers with closing lids must be provided for residents to dispose of trash, and recycling containers must be provided for recyclables, and containers must be picked up at least once a week, if collected at each campsite. If a central collection area is utilized, trash and recyclables must be picked up twice a week. It shall be the camp owner's responsibility to maintain the centralized collection area in a nonobjectionable manner.
(16)
Sufficient lighting will be provided outside to ensure safety and security of campers.
(17)
Fire hydrants must be installed per the water authority regulations.
D.
Churches or similar places of worship including all parish houses, parsonages and church-related cemeteries.
E.
Neighborhood outdoor recreational facilities and organizations when not operated for gain or profit.
F.
Federal, state and local municipal buildings and uses and essential services.
G.
Signs when erected and maintained in accordance with the applicable provisions of Article V, Signs.
H.
Surface mining. All new surface mining operations and expansions of existing surface mining operations shall be permitted as a conditional use, when said operation is located with vehicular access over a roadway with paving, a minimum of three inches thick and at least 20 feet in width connecting said operation to a roadway classified in the Township Comprehensive Plan as an arterial roadway, and subject to the following conditions and performance standards:
(1)
Surface mining operations shall include sandpits, gravel pits, removal of topsoil or rock, or the removal of any natural resource or mineral from the land or ground.
(2)
Any person, corporation or otherwise, engaged in, or proposing to engage in, surface mining operations as defined herein, shall be properly licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to engage in such operations.
(3)
Surface mining operations including production, processing, excavation, extraction, sedimentation ponds, stockpiling and related structures shall not be conducted or erected closer than 300 feet to any property line or public road.
(4)
Vegetative screening shall be provided by the owner along all of the property and street boundary lines separating the operation from adjacent uses. The screening is to be in the form of vegetation and the following standards shall apply:
(a)
A minimum of three rows of trees, shrubs, or other vegetation not less than 50% evergreen material shall be planted to produce the effective visual barricade.
(b)
At least two different species of trees, shrubs or other vegetation shall be utilized. Selected species shall exhibit different tolerances to insect and disease.
(c)
Species selected must be capable of producing the effective visual barrier, 10 feet in height, within five years of planting.
(d)
Prompt replacement of any dead species shall be required.
(5)
The following security measures shall be provided:
(a)
Prior to the commencement of surface mining operations, a physical barricade shall be constructed enclosing the area actively being excavated in accordance with the following standards: Fencing shall be at least six feet high and constructed of wire mesh fabric and barbed wire across the top.
(b)
All access openings shall be provided with gates that can be locked to prevent unauthorized entry during periods of nonoperation.
(c)
Warning signs stating the nature of the operation shall be conspicuously posted around the perimeter of the operation.
(6)
A site plan of the entire property, clearly and legibly drawn at a scale of one inch equals 100 feet or less, shall be provided and include the following items:
(a)
North arrow, scale and date.
(b)
Topographic contour lines.
(c)
All property lines including a metes-and-bounds description and the size of the property expressed in acres or square feet.
(d)
The location of all existing buildings, structures, cemeteries, streets, wells and streams within 500 feet of the property proposed for surface mining operations.
(e)
The location of the proposed surface mining operation and the staging of operations if applicable.
(f)
The location of proposed stockpiles, sedimentation ponds, access road and buildings associated with the proposed operation.
(g)
The location of security fences, gates, and signs.
(h)
The location and description of required screening.
(i)
The location and description of all erosion and sedimentation control measures.
(7)
A traffic circulation plan drawn at a suitable scale shall be provided indicating the following:
(a)
The location of the proposed operation with respect to major traffic arteries.
(b)
The proposed vehicular routing both to and from the proposed operation.
(8)
An operation plan shall be provided for all surface mining operations and shall include the following:
(a)
Procedures to be followed for compliance with Section 102, Chapter 77, of the Department of Environmental Protection Rules and Regulations.
(b)
A schedule of operational hours, provided that:
[1]
No surface mining operation commence prior to 6:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m., prevailing time; and
[2]
All required blasting shall be confined to the hours between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time.
(c)
Procedures for the removal of mud or debris on any public road resulting from the ingress or egress of vehicular traffic from the operation. Said mud or debris shall be removed at the end of each working day, or more frequently if needed during the working day.
(d)
Procedures for dust control shall include the following:
[1]
Access roads shall be maintained with a dustless surface from the connecting public roadway to a point within 100 feet of any loading area.
[2]
Stockpiling of any materials shall be in such a manner as to prevent dust from blowing onto adjacent properties.
(e)
Procedures for controlling erosion and sedimentation resulting from the proposed operation as required by the Department of Environmental Protection and consistent with erosion and sedimentation control measures included in this chapter.
(f)
Procedures for the ultimate closing and reclamation of the proposed operation as required by the Department of Environmental Protection.
(9)
Maintenance bonds.
(a)
A maintenance bond not exceeding 50% of the full cost of repaving the Township roads servicing the operation, from the entry to the operation to the first utilized arterial roadway, as classified by the Township Comprehensive Plan, under such conditions, in form and with surety as shall be approved by the Township Board of Supervisors, shall be provided by the operator. In lieu of a bond, the operator may deposit cash or securities with the Township to secure said repaving under an escrow agreement approved by the Township Solicitor and Board of Supervisors.
(b)
The amount of the bond or other guarantee shall be equal to 50% of the cost of the required repaving as estimated by the Township Engineer. The amount of financial security may be increased by up to an additional 10% for each one-year period beyond the first anniversary date from posting of financial security.
(10)
Abandonment of mines. Any mine abandoned or ceasing operations shall provide appropriate closure and reclamation measures in accordance with Chapter 77 of the Pennsylvania department of Environmental Protection Rules and Regulations regarding noncoal mining activities. Said measures shall include, but not be limited to, backfilling, soil stabilization, compacting and grading, revegetation, fencing and security, and the elimination of potential combustion and fire hazards.
I.
Bed-and-breakfast operations.
J.
Convalescent homes, group homes, hospices, and assisted-living facilities.
K.
Radio and television transmission facilities, electric or telephone substation, and natural and propane gas facilities.
L.
Shooting ranges, firing ranges, weapon ranges, subject to the minimum conditions below:
(1)
Minimum of five-acre sites.
(2)
No alcoholic beverages permitted on the same property as range.
(3)
Details on ammunition storage and shooter orientation programs must be provided in writing.
(4)
Perimeters of range must be fenced.
(5)
Lead recovery programs must be implemented.
(6)
Posting of signs indicating area is subject to shooting and raising of range flags when range is in use.
(7)
Details on range design, including the "safety fan."
(8)
Utilization of sound abatement materials.
(9)
Details on backstop construction, size, etc.
(10)
Separation of shooting, preparation and observation areas.
(11)
Verifications that all design elements are prepared in accordance with NRA (National Rifle Association) range design standards.
(12)
Identification of individuals who will be range operators and who have completed NRA Range Development and Operations Conference or equivalent training acceptable to the Township.
(13)
Proof that insurance coverage is provided for damage done on- or off-property by range users.
(14)
A minimum of $2,000,000 liability coverage shall be maintained at all times.
(15)
Additional conditions as recommended by the Planning Committee and set by the Township Supervisors.
[Amended 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 271]
M.
Horses with private stables and goats subject to the following conditions:
[Added 8-19-2002 by Ord. No. 158; amended 3-21-2016 by Ord. No. 255; 12-19-2016 by Ord. No. 262]
(1)
Such use shall occupy a lot with open space, such as pasture, grassland or cropland devoid of trees and shrubs, of not less than one acre and a minimum of 70% ground cover must be maintained to prevent soil erosion.
(2)
Minimum setback distances from any property line for stables or any other building housing horses or goats, and any waste storage area, shall be 100 feet.
(3)
A manure/waste management plan shall be provided with the conditional use application.
(4)
No more than one horse or goat per acre of open space.
N.
Communications towers or structures on property by any municipal corporation, by a municipal authority organized by the municipality, or by a nonprofit corporation, existing for at least 36 months prior to filing an application, whose primary purpose is to serve the recreational needs of the community. Any such installation shall be designed and intended to serve multiple telecommunication carriers.
[Added 11-20-2006 by Ord. No. 206; amended 9-3-2008 by Ord. No. 216]
O.
Solar farms, solar furnaces, and other solar collection systems principally used to capture solar energy, convert it to electrical energy or thermal power and supply electrical or thermal power primarily for off-site use.
[Added 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 279]
P.
Wind turbines and other wind collection systems principally used to capture wind energy, convert it to electrical energy or thermal power and supply electrical or thermal power primarily for off-site use.
[Added 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 279]
§ 360-59 Minimum areas and density requirements.
A.
All buildings, including accessory buildings, shall not cover more than 10% of the area of the lot.
B.
Minimum required for all uses not otherwise listed:
(1)
Lot size: two acres.
(2)
Lot width: 200 feet.
(3)
Lot depth: 180 feet.
(4)
Front yard: 50 feet.
(5)
Each side yard: 30 feet.
(6)
Rear yard: 50 feet.
(7)
Height: 40 feet.
(8)
Parking: two off-street spaces.
(9)
Building width: 20 feet.
C.
Where a parcel greater than 8.0 acres in size is to be subdivided into residential lots, the minimum lot area may be reduced to one acre, provided that 50% of the original parcel remains as open space. The open space shall be reviewed by the Township Planning Committee and Board of Supervisors by way of sketch plan, for their approval before a preliminary plan may be submitted.
[Added 9-19-2011 by Ord. No. 235[1]; 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 271
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also provided for the redesignation of former Subsection C as Subsection D.
D.
When on-lot sewer facilities are to be utilized, the minimum lot size may be increased by the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer or the Department of Environmental Protection for factors relating to health and sanitation.
